Effect of polarization in evanescent wave amplification for the enhancement of scattering of nanoparticles on surfaces

We demonstrate the far field detection of low-contrast nanoparticles on surfaces using a technique that is based on evanescent-wave amplification due to a thin dielectric layer that is deposited on the substrate. This research builds upon earlier results where scattering enhancement of 200 nm polystyrene (PSL) particles on top of a glass...

Superresolution effect due to a thin dielectric slab for imaging with radially polarized light

Improving the image quality of small particles is a classic problem and especially challenging when the distance between particles are below the optical diffraction limit. We propose a imaging system illuminated with radially polarized light combined with a suitable substrate that contains a thin dielectric layer to demonstrate that the...

Spatially varying aberration calibration using a pair of matched periodic pinhole array masks

For advanced imaging systems, e.g., projection systems for optical lithography, spatially varying aberration calibration is of utmost importance to achieve uniform imaging performance over the entire field-of-view (FOV). Here we present an efficient, accurate, and robust spatially varying aberration calibration method using a pair of 2...

Angular momentum properties of hybrid cylindrical vector vortex beams in tightly focused optical systems

Optical angular momenta (AM) have attracted tremendous research interest in recent years. In this paper we theoretically investigate the electromagnetic field and angular momentum properties of tightly focused arbitrary cylindrical vortex vector (CVV) input beams. An absorptive particle is placed in focused CVV fields to analyze the optical...

On-chip interrogator based on Fourier transform spectroscopy

In this paper, the design and the characterization of a novel interrogator based on integrated Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first integrated FT spectrometer used for the interrogation of photonic sensors. It consists of a planar spatial heterodyne spectrometer, which is...

Model-independent noise-robust extension of ptychography

A noise-robust extension of iterative phase retrieval algorithms that does not need to assume a noise model is proposed. It works by adapting the intensity constraints using the reconstructed object. Using a proof-of-principle ptychographic experiment with visible light and a spatial light modulator to create an object, the proposed method is...

Non-iterative method for phase retrieval and coherence characterization by focus variation using a fixed star-shaped mask

A novel non-iterative phase retrieval method is proposed and demonstrated with a<br/>proof-of-principle experiment. The method uses a fixed specially designed mask and through-focus intensity measurements. It is demonstrated that this method is robust to spatial partial coherence in the illumination, making it suitable for coherent diffractive...

Confocal microscopy with a radially polarized focused beam

Rigorous vectorial focusing theory is used to study the imaging of small adjacent particles with a confocal laser scanning system. We consider radially polarized illumination with an optimized amplitude distribution and an annular lens to obtain a narrower distribution of the longitudinal component of the field in focus. A polarization...

Creation of aspheric interfaces on an electrowetting liquid lens using surface oscillations

A technique to create aspheric surface shapes on commercially available electrowetting liquid lenses is demonstrated. Based on a previously published surface oscillation model a technique using a Hankel transform is proposed and tested experimentally. An alternating actuation voltage is applied to the liquid lens to stimulate surface...

Phase retrieval of the full vectorial field applied to coherent Fourier scatterometry

Coherent Fourier scatterometry is an optical metrology technique that utilizes the measured intensity of the scattered optical field to reconstruct certain parameters of test structures written on a wafer with nano-scale accuracy. The intensity of the scattered field is recorded with a camera and this information is used to retrieve the...

Stretchable Binary Fresnel Lens for Focus Tuning

This paper presents a tuneable binary amplitude Fresnel lens produced by wafer-level microfabrication. The Fresnel lens is fabricated by encapsulating lithographically defined vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles inside a polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) layer. The composite lens material combines the excellent optical absorption...

Application of full field optical studies for pulsatile flow in a carotid artery phantom

A preliminary comparative measurement between particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) and laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) to study pulsatile flow using ventricular assist device in a patient-specific carotid artery phantom is reported. These full-field optical techniques have both been used to study flow and extract complementary parameters....

Multicomponent gas analysis using broadband quantum cascade laser spectroscopy

We present a broadband quantum cascade laser-based spectroscopic system covering the region between 850 and 1250 cm?1. Its robust multipass cavity ensures a constant interaction length over the entire spectral region. The device enables the detection and identification of numerous molecules present in a complex gas mixture without any pre...

Dynamic light scattering from pulsatile flow in the presence of induced motion artifacts

Continuous health monitoring has become a major theme of our aging society. Portable devices play an important role here. Many optical portable devices are susceptible to motion induced artifacts. We have performed an experimental study for detection of fluid pulsation based on multi-exposure speckle images, in presence of motion induced...