Adaptive Wavefront Shaping Research Articles

All-optical control of high-purity trions in nanoscale waveguide

The generation of high-purity localized trions, dynamic exciton–trion interconversion, and their spatial modulation in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are building blocks for the realization of trion-based optoelectronic devices. Here, we present a method for the all-optical control of the exciton-to-trion conversion process and its spatial distributions in a MoS2 monolayer. We induce a nanoscale strain gradient in a 2D crystal transferred on a lateral metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide and exploit propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) to localize hot electrons. These significantly increase the electrons and efficiently funnel excitons in the lateral MIM waveguide, facilitating complete exciton-to-trion conversion even at ambient conditions. Additionally, we modulate the SPP mode using adaptive wavefront shaping, enabling all-optical control of the exciton-to-trion conversion rate and trion distribution in a reversible manner. Our work provides a platform for harnessing excitonic quasiparticles efficiently in the form of trions at ambient conditions, enabling high-efficiency photoconversion.

Spectrally programmable Raman fiber laser with adaptive wavefront shaping

Raman fiber lasers (RFLs) have broadband tunability due to cascaded stimulated Raman scattering, providing extensive degrees of freedom for spectral manipulation. However, the spectral diversity of RFLs depends mainly on the wavelength flexibility of the pump, which limits the application of RFLs. Here, a spectrally programmable RFL is developed based on two-dimensional spatial-to-spectral mapping of light in multimode fibers (MMFs). Using an intracavity wavefront shaping method combined with genetic algorithm optimization, we launch light with a selected wavelength(s) at MMF output into the active part of the laser for amplification. In contrast, the light of undesired wavelengths is blocked. We demonstrate spectral shaping of the high-order RFL, including a continuously tunable single wavelength and multiple wavelengths with a designed spectral shape. Due to the simultaneous control of different wavelength regions, each order of Raman Stokes light allows flexible and independent spectral manipulation. Our research exploits light manipulation in a fiber platform with multi-eigenmodes and nonlinear gain, mapping spatial control to the spectral domain and extending linear light control in MMFs to active light emission, which is of great significance for applications of RFLs in optical imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy.

Adaptive Wave-Front Shaping and Beam Focusing through Fiber Bundles for High-Resolution Bioimaging

We demonstrate an adaptive wave-front shaping of optical beams transmitted through fiber bundles as a powerful resource for multisite, high-resolution bioimaging. With the phases of all the beamlets delivered through up to 6000 different fibers within the fiber bundle controlled individually, by means of a high-definition spatial light modulator, the overall beam transmitted through the fiber bundle can be focused into a beam waist with a diameter less than 1 μm within a targeted area in a biotissue, providing a diffraction-limited spatial resolution adequate for single-cell or even subcellular bioimaging. The field intensity in the adaptively-focused continuous-wave laser beam in our fiber-bundle-imaging setting is more than two orders of magnitude higher than the intensity of the speckle background. Once robust beam focusing was achieved with a suitable phase profile across the input face of the fiber bundle, the beam focus can be scanned over a targeted area with no need for a further adaptive search, by applying a physically intuitive, wave-front-tilting phase mask on the field of input beamlets. This method of beam-focus scanning promises imaging speeds compatible with the requirements of in vivo calcium imaging.

Formation of spiraling infrared emission patterns by controlled interaction of optical filaments.

We analyzed the formation of mid-infrared conical emission patterns possessing spiral and half-ring shaped wavelength contours from a beam of a few optical filaments. The complex patterns were generated and modified experimentally by adaptive wavefront shaping of the femtosecond laser pulse. Mutual interactions between co-propagating filaments can induce curvature in their paths, and the spiral and half-ring emissions were shown to be a direct consequence of this angular deflection. Based on our experimental and computational results, the spirals form in the far-field due to self-interference of conical emission from a helically moving filament. The presented findings will advance the tailoring of spatial conical emission patterns potentially beneficial for spectroscopic applications and terahertz generation.

Simultaneous turbulence mitigation and channel demultiplexing for two 100 Gbit/s orbital-angular-momentum multiplexed beams by adaptive wavefront shaping and diffusing

We experimentally demonstrate simultaneous turbulence mitigation and channel demultiplexing in a 200 Gbit/s orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) multiplexed link by adaptive wavefront shaping and diffusing (WSD) the light beams. Different realizations of two emulated turbulence strengths (the Fried parameter ${r_0} = 0.4,\,1.0\;{\rm mm}$r0=0.4,1.0mm) are mitigated. The experimental results show the following. (1) Crosstalk between OAM $l = + 1$l=+1 and $l = - 1$l=-1 modes can be reduced by $ {\gt} {10.0}$>10.0 and $ {\gt} {5.8}\;{\rm dB}$>5.8dB, respectively, under the weaker turbulence (${r_0} = 1.0\;{\rm mm}$r0=1.0mm); crosstalk is further improved by $ {\gt} {17.7}$>17.7 and $ {\gt} {19.4}\;{\rm dB}$>19.4dB, respectively, under most realizations in the stronger turbulence (${r_0} = 0.4\;{\rm mm}$r0=0.4mm). (2) The optical signal-to-noise ratio penalties for the bit error rate performance are measured to be ${\sim}{0.7}$∼0.7 and ${\sim}{1.6}\;{\rm dB}$∼1.6dB under weaker turbulence, while measured to be ${\sim}{3.2}$∼3.2 and ${\sim}{1.8}\;{\rm dB}$∼1.8dB under stronger turbulence for OAM $l = + 1$l=+1 and $l = - 1$l=-1 mode, respectively.

Invited Article: Visualisation of extreme value events in optical communications

Fluctuations of a temporal signal propagating along long-haul transoceanic scale fiber links can be visualised in the spatio-temporal domain drawing visual analogy with ocean waves. Substantial overlapping of information symbols or use of multi-frequency signals leads to strong statistical deviations of local peak power from an average signal power level. We consider long-haul optical communication systems from this unusual angle, treating them as physical systems with a huge number of random statistical events, including extreme value fluctuations that potentially might affect the quality of data transmission. We apply the well-established concepts of adaptive wavefront shaping used in imaging through turbid medium to detect the detrimental phase modulated sequences in optical communications that can cause extreme power outages (rare optical waves of ultra-high amplitude) during propagation down the ultra-long fiber line. We illustrate the concept by a theoretical analysis of rare events of high-intensity fluctuations—optical freak waves, taking as an example an increasingly popular optical frequency division multiplexing data format where the problem of high peak to average power ratio is the most acute. We also show how such short living extreme value spikes in the optical data streams are affected by nonlinearity and demonstrate the negative impact of such events on the system performance.

Adaptive wavefront shaping for controlling nonlinear multimode interactions in optical fibres

Recent progress in wavefront shaping has enabled control of light propagation inside linear media to focus and image through scattering objects. In particular, light propagation in multimode fibres comprises complex intermodal interactions and rich spatiotemporal dynamics. Control of physical phenomena in multimode fibres and its applications are in their infancy, opening opportunities to take advantage of complex nonlinear modal dynamics. Here, we demonstrate a wavefront shaping approach for controlling nonlinear phenomena in multimode fibres. Using a spatial light modulator at the fibre input, real-time spectral feedback and a genetic algorithm optimization, we control a highly nonlinear multimode stimulated Raman scattering cascade and its interplay with four-wave mixing via a flexible implicit control on the superposition of modes coupled into the fibre. We show versatile spectrum manipulations including shifts, suppression, and enhancement of Stokes and anti-Stokes peaks. These demonstrations illustrate the power of wavefront shaping to control and optimize nonlinear wave propagation. The combination of a spatial light modulator at the fibre input, real-time spectral feedback and a genetic algorithm optimization controls the nonlinear stimulated Raman scattering cascade and its interplay with four-wave mixing in multimode fibres.

Enhancing light transmission through a disordered waveguide with inhomogeneous scattering and loss

We enhanced the total transmission of light through a disordered waveguide with spatially inhomogeneous scattering and loss by shaping the incident wavefront of a laser beam. Using an on-chip tapered lead, we were able to access all input modes in the waveguide with a spatial light modulator. The adaptive wavefront shaping resulted in selective coupling of input light to high transmission channels, which bypassed the regions of higher scattering and loss in the waveguide. Spatial inhomogeneity in scattering and loss leads to the modification of the spatial structures of transmission eigenchannels, allowing wavefront shaping to redirect the energy flux to circumvent regions of higher scattering and loss and thereby enhancing the energy transported through the system. This work demonstrates the power of wavefront shaping in coherent control of light transport in inhomogeneous scattering media, which are common in real applications.

Control of Energy Density inside a Disordered Medium by Coupling to Open or Closed Channels.

We demonstrate experimentally the efficient control of light intensity distribution inside a random scattering system. The adaptive wave front shaping technique is applied to a silicon waveguide containing scattering nanostructures, and the on-chip coupling scheme enables access to all input spatial modes. By selectively coupling the incident light to the open or closed channels of the disordered system, we not only vary the total energy stored inside the system by a factor of 7.4, but also change the energy density distribution from an exponential decay to a linear decay and to a profile peaked near the center. This work provides an on-chip platform for controlling light-matter interactions in turbid media.

Imaging with Multimode Fibers

Holography and phase conjugation were proposed in the middle 1960's for cor- recting the distortions in imaging systems due to aberrating or scattering media. These early methods have been revisited in recent years and successful experimental demonstrations have been reported with digital holographic methods in which the recording and reconstruction of the hologram is done with the help of a digital computer. The digital holographic methods ofier a lot more ∞exibility and control compared to the all-optical methods of the past making holographic imaging much more practical. In addition, adaptive wavefront shaping techniques have been recently developed providing a set of related and synergistic methods for imaging in complex media. In this presentation we will focus primarily on the application of the modern tools of holography to the control of light transmission through multi-mode flbers. The modal dispersion that severely scrambles images propagating through multi-mode flbers can be compensated al- lowing us to exploit the many degrees of freedom available in the multi-mode flber for imaging and sensing.

Direct optimization of femtosecond laser ablation using adaptive wavefront shaping

We introduce an approach based on using an iterative simulated annealing algorithm to drive the outcome of femtosecond laser ablation towards a specific target shape by using a two-dimensional deformable mirror. Unlike previous work combining adaptive optics and laser machining we use the machining outcome itself as the fitness parameter for the optimization procedure. Single-pulse ablation features with programmable aspect ratios and dimensions as small as 2.5 µm are faithfully reproduced by the technique in a chromium-on-glass test sample.

Adaptive wavefront shaping with liquid crystals

The authors are interested in high resolution imaging systems, and in particular new techniques for wavefront sensing and correction.