Beam Splitter Research Articles

Comparison of Controlled-Z operation and beam-splitter transformation for generation of squeezed Fock states by measurement

In the present paper, we investigate the protocol for the generation of squeezed Fock states by measuring the number of particles from a two-mode entangled Gaussian state using a beam splitter and a controlled-Z operation. From two different perspectives, we analyzed two entanglement transformations in the protocol. We evaluated the energy costs and resource requirements of the analyzed schemes. Furthermore, we studied the impact of experimental imperfections on the non-Gaussian states generated by measuring the number of particles. We explored the effects of photon loss and imperfect detectors on the squeezed Fock state generation protocol.

Topology Optimization of Superconducting Photonic Crystal Power Beam Splitter

Topology Optimization of Superconducting Photonic Crystal Power Beam Splitter

Structural performance of split orthogonal beam joints in continuous beam‐type circular concrete‐filled steel tubular beam‐to‐column connections

AbstractA continuous beam‐type connection has been proposed as a new type of concrete‐filled steel tubular beam‐to‐column connection without a diaphragm exhibits good seismic performance. However, in a 2‐way configuration, the performance of the connection in a direction orthogonal to the continuous beam may be suboptimal due to beam splitting. In this study, a new detail of a split orthogonal beam joint was proposed and 4 specimens were constructed and tested under quasi‐static conditions. All the specimens attained the full‐plastic flexural strength for the beams and exhibited a stable inelastic behavior. The specimen in which the depth of the orthogonal continuous beam was 100 mm greater than that of the split beam exhibited good inelastic cyclic behavior, whereas two other specimens with a split beam exhibited slipping and pinching. Minor fractures were observed in the tube wall; however, the strength and stiffness did not deteriorate significantly, though a slight pinched hysteresis was observed. In addition, a finite element analysis was conducted. The split beam was largely rotationally constrained by the bearing pressure of the concrete above and/or below the beam flange. If the split beam's flange was sufficiently inserted into the connection panel, the stiffness and strength were ensured.

Compact THz Polarization Splitter with Large Bandwidth Based on Cascade Hexagonal Porous Two-Core PCF

ABSTRACT A novel cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)-based terahertz (THz) polarization beam splitter (PBS) employing photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with cascade hexagonal porous two-core structure is proposed. The porous two-core is achieved by replacing the original two large air holes with three layers of small air holes. The mode coupling characteristics between the even and odd modes in the x- and y-polarization directions for the proposed THz PBS are explored using the time-domain finite difference (FDTD) method. The influence of PBS structural parameters on its coupling length is investigated. Numerical analysis results indicate that the bandwidths of 227.8 GHz (ranging from 1.8970 to 2.1248 THz) and 147 GHz (ranging from 1.928 to 2.075 THz) are acquired for the x- and y-polarization fundamental modes, respectively. The highest extinction ratios (ERs) are 114.5 dB and 72.3 dB, and the minimum insertion losses (ILs) are 0.0142 dB and 0.0369 dB for the x- and y-polarization fundamental modes, respectively. Moreover, the length of the proposed PBS is merely 11.655 mm. The proposed PBS will find potential applications in polarization-diverse THz systems, including broadband line-of-sight communication, real-time security checks, and high-resolution imaging.

Silicon photonics foundry fabricated, slow-light enhanced, low power thermal phase shifter

In this research, we developed a low-power silicon photonics foundry-fabricated slow-light thermal phase shifter (SLTPS) where the slow-light (SL) effect is achieved using an integrated Bragg grating (BG) waveguide. Heating the grating induces a red shift in the transmission spectrum, leading to an increased group index ng during operation, which facilitates a further reduction in the voltage needed for a π phase shift, i.e., Vπ. Additionally, we investigated a compact Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) that incorporates the SLTPS in both arms with a phase shifter length of 50 μm. A detailed theoretical analysis was conducted to address the non-idealities of the SL-MZI due to uneven optical power splitting and unbalanced loss in the two MZI arms. Vπ and power consumption for a π phase shift (Pπ) of the SL-MZI were quantified for operation in the slow-light regime, demonstrating a Vπ of 1.1 V and a Pπ of 3.63 mW at an operational wavelength near the photonic band edge. The figure of merit Pπ×τ is commonly used to assess the performance of thermal optical switches. The SL-MZI in this work has achieved a low Pπ×τ of 5.1 mW μs with an insertion loss of 4.4 dB, indicating a trade-off with the Vπ reduction.

Wavepacket interference of two photons through a beam splitter: from temporal entanglement to wavepacket shaping

Wavepacket interference of two photons through a beam splitter: from temporal entanglement to wavepacket shaping

Geometry-based stochastic channel modeling of a semi-urban environment using simultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligentsurface

Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting (STAR) Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) demonstrates the ability to split incoming electromagnetic beams to transmit and reflect signals in a concurrent manner. Thus, compared to conventional RIS, service area coverage is extended on deploying STAR-RIS. This paper presents a geometry-based stochastic channel model (GBSM) of STAR-RIS-assisted outdoor wireless channel. For the considered semi-urban environment, STAR-RIS operates in energy-splitting mode. Channel between a base station (BS) and users (UR/UT) located on the reflect/transmit (R/T) side of STAR-RIS is characterised using a GBSM. An elliptical model incorporates the inevitable presence of scatterers in the considered semi-urban segment. Statistical properties of the wireless channel under test are analysed using space–time cross-correlation function (ST-CCF) and temporal auto-correlation function (ACF). Further, to gain holistic insight about the wireless channel behaviour, normalised Doppler power spectral density (ND-PSD) is estimated for semi-urban segment having three distinct underlying hypothesis as: (i) Wireless channel is governed by Rayleigh fading model, (ii) Wireless Channel is equipped with conventional RIS and (iii) STAR-RIS is an integral part of the considered wireless channel. Simulation results confirm that STAR-RIS performs at par with RIS, however, facilitating an additional degree of coverage. It is observed that temporal ACF and ST-CCF improves with an increase in the number of elements in STAR-RIS.

Multifunctional electrically switchable metalens

Here, we propose three all-solid-state, electrically switchable, transmissive, and multifunctional metalens arrays comprising tunable metal-oxide material BaTiO3 (BTO) nanopillars with different structural parameters. To produce the required phase profile for each metalens, the rectangular nanopillars, as the unit cell of the BTO structure, are developed to support arbitrary combinations of two independent phase shifts (0−2π) with bias voltage states of 0 V and 60 V, at first. Second, the structure parameters of different functional metalens arrays are generated efficiently and accurately based on the dual-phase modulation characteristics of a single structure. Finally, we use the finite-difference time-domain method to simulate the three kinds of switchable metalenses. The results show that the three metalenses can realize the function of adjustable focus position, switchable beam focusing and beam deflection, and switchable beam focusing and beam splitting.

1 × 2 broadband polarization-independent beam splitter based on air annular photonic crystal designed by a particle swarm optimization algorithm

We propose a 1×2 broadband polarization-independent beam splitter based on air annular photonic crystals. The inner and outer radii of the air annular photonic crystals at the V-shaped waveguide side and corners can influence the transmittance and broadband performance. To improve the design efficiency and transmittance of the broadband splitter, particle swarm optimization was used to reverse-design the splitter. The performance of the designed splitter was studied, and the results show that the designed splitter has a wide bandwidth range of 1530–1565 nm. It exhibits a minimum transmittance of 84% and an average transmittance of 87.8% for TE polarization and a minimum transmittance of 81% and an average transmittance of 83% for TM polarization. The response times for both polarizations are below 0.7 ps. This device has promising applications in all-optical communication networks and photonic high-density integration.

Acoustic Wave Velocities in Bridge Steels and the Effects on Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic testing is utilized to ensure weld quality during the fabrication of steel bridges by identifying discontinuities that are classified as either acceptable or rejectable. The classification of a discontinuity can be affected by differences in the acoustic properties of the material under test and the reference standard used for calibration. Differences in wave velocity affect the refracted angle and amplitude of refracted shear waves. As a result, indications can be missed or incorrectly classified, or incorrectly located in the material. The objective of this research study was to characterize the acoustic wave velocities in a sample of contemporary steels to better understand the range over which velocities may vary for common steels. To address this objective, a series of velocity measurements have been conducted for shear waves propagating through different directions in steel plates of different strengths and reported manufacturing processes. The study also examines the loss of signal amplitude that results from changes in the refracted angle of shear waves used for the inspection of welds. Beam splitting that may occur in anisotropic materials and the potential impact on signal amplitudes is also presented. It was shown in the research that relatively small differences in velocity between the material under test and the reference standard cause a loss of sensitivity of the test. Data presented in the paper documents wave velocity and anisotropic ratios for a population of contemporary bridge steels used for the fabrication of steel bridges and an assessment of how velocity differences affect the amplitude of reflected shear waves.

Ultracompact polarization beam splitter based on hybrid plasmonic waveguide

A compact polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on a three-waveguide plasmonic directional coupler was proposed and modeled. The directional coupler comprised two common silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ridge waveguides, with a metal-capped plasmonic SOI waveguide sandwiched between them. The geometrical structure of the three-waveguide directional coupled waveguide was optimized, realizing the phase matching of transverse magnetic (TM) modes but not of transverse electric (TE) modes. The structure and performance of the PBS was optimized using a finite-difference time-domain method. Simulation results showed that the birefringence comparison of TE and TM modes in a hybrid plasmonic waveguide was enhanced using a dielectric loading waveguide to obtain an ultra-compact structure; the final optimized coupling length of the device was 6.1 µm. At the center wavelength of 1.55 µm, the polarization extinction ratio of the TE and TM modes was 34.57 dB and 23.24 dB, and the insertion loss was 0.01 dB and 0.13 dB, respectively.

Image-Based Auto-Focus Microscope System with Visual Servo Control for Micro-Stereolithography.

Micro-stereolithography (μSL) is an advanced additive manufacturing technique that enables the fabrication of highly precise microstructures with fine feature resolution. One of the primary challenges in μSL is achieving and maintaining precise focus throughout the fabrication process. For the successful application of μSL, it is essential to maintain the sample surface within a focal depth of several microns. Despite the growing interest in auto-focus devices, limited attention has been directed towards auto-focus systems in image-based auto-focus microscope systems for precision μSL. To address this challenge, we propose an image-based auto-focus microscope system incorporating visual servo control. In the optical design, a transflective beam splitter is employed, allowing the laser beam to pass through for fabrication while reflecting the focused beam on the sample surface to the microscope and camera. Utilizing captured spot images and the Foucault knife-edge test, a deep learning-based laser spot image processing algorithm is developed to determine the focus position based on spot size and the number of spot pixels on both sides. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed auto-focus system effectively determines the relative position of the focal point using the laser spot image and achieves auto-focusing through visual servo control.

Dynamic and Wavelength‐Dependent Optical Transmission Control with Uniform Bending and Recovery of Shape Memory Nanopillars

AbstractIn this paper, the fabrication, characterization, and investigation of the optical properties of high aspect ratio shape memory polymer (SMP) nanopillars are presented. The SMP nanopillars are fabricated using nanoimprint lithography and double‐replication techniques, resulting in well‐defined structures with a height of 1.3 µm and a diameter of 270 nm that can be uniformly bent across a large area. The optical transmission spectra of both straight and bent SMP nanopillars are studied. Experimental measurements, along with finite‐difference time‐domain simulations, reveal significant alterations in the transmission spectra due to the presence of the nanopillars. The SMP nanopillars provide a smart optical power splitting effect, enabling wavelength‐dependent splitting of incident light by controlling the SMP nanopillar bending angle and direction dynamically with temperature. These findings highlight the potential of SMP nanopillars as versatile components for manipulating light in wavelength‐dependent optical devices.

Application of Single-Frequency Arbitrarily Directed Split Beam Metasurface Reflector in Refractive Index Measurements.

We present a sensor that utilizes a modified single-frequency split beam metasurface reflector to measure the refractive index of materials ranging from one to three. Samples are placed into a cavity between a PCB-etched dielectric and a reflecting ground plane. It is illuminated using a 10.525 GHz free-space transmit horn with reflecting angles measured by sweeping a receiving horn around the setup. Predetermined changes in measured angles determined through simulations will coincide with the material's index. The sensor is designed using the Fourier transform method of array synthesis and verified with FEM simulations. The device is fabricated using PCB milling and 3D printing. The quality of the sensor is verified by characterizing 3D printed dielectric samples of various infill percentages and thicknesses. Without changing the metasurface design, the sensing performance is extended to accommodate larger sample thicknesses by including a modified 3D printed fish-eye lens mounted in front of the beam splitter; this helps to exaggerate changes in reflected angles for those samples. All the methods presented are in agreement and verified with single-frequency index measurements using Snell's law. This device may offer a viable alternative to traditional index characterization methods, which often require large sample sizes for single-frequency measurements or expensive equipment for multi-frequency parameter extraction.

Improved experimental scheme for the generation of pair coherent state in traveling-wave optical fields

Abstract Pair coherent state (PCS) is a two-mode non-Gaussian state recently generated within spatially confined superconducting cavities. Under typical conditions, it is unsuitable for performing global quantum missions in open space. Several methods have been proposed to generate this state with the capability to propagate unrestrictedly. However, these methods employed an excessive amount of unnecessary physical resources or relied on coherent displacement within the low regime. This paper presents a novel experimental approach to generate this state, specifically designed for facilitating long-distance quantum information processing and communication tasks. The method involves the utilization of two weak cross-Kerr nonlinear media, two balanced beam splitters, and an on/off photodetector. Furthermore, the input comprises three CSs with high amplitudes. These physical resources are potentially accessible within existing technology. The analysis of success probability and fidelity demonstrates that the PCS can be successfully generated with a high coherent parameter amplitude, even in scenarios where the photodetector efficiency is low, provided that the coherent amplitudes are sufficiently high.

Crossed-cell-tile multiplexed 1st-order gratings, for three-dimensional beam-splitter applications

Oblique angle of incidence two-way and three-way beam splitters were designed and fabricated. The devices feature two first-order diffraction gratings, arrayed crossed in alternating adjacent tiles, resulting in conical diffraction spot separation of two 1 st -orders in orthogonal planes while overlapping the 0 th -order. The two-way beam splitter was designed for 0 th −order suppression. The three-way beam splitter was designed to distribute light equally between the 1 st and 0 th − order spots. Testing of the devices yielded efficiencies of 2%:46%:46% for the two-way beam splitter at 604 nm, and 32%:32%:32% for the three-way beam splitter at 633 nm wavelength. The polarization state of the incident beam was preserved after diffraction through the devices.

Design of a switchable triple-waveguide-based TE-converted polarization beam splitter based on lithium niobate

The lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) platform has been the new force to drive the developments of integrated photonics, where efficient polarization management and mode conversion are the fundamental issues to be solved. In this work, we proposed a switchable TE-converted polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on optical phase change material (PCM) and a triple-waveguide in simulation. To optimize and analyze the proposed design, the 3D finite difference time domain (3D-FDTD) method is applied in this work. The simulated results indicate that when PCM is in the amorphous state, the device can effectively separate the TM and TE modes, achieving a low insertion loss (<0.5dB) for both modes at 1550 nm. While the PCM is in the crystalline state, the proposed device can realize the efficient conversion from the input TE0 mode to output TE1 mode, which obtains a mode conversion efficiency of 99.5%, crosstalk of −26dB, and insertion loss of 0.5 dB at 1550 nm. We hope such a device can make compact integration and capacity improvement for the integrated photonics in LNOI.

Switchable Dual-Wavelength Fiber Laser with Narrow-Linewidth Output Based on Parity-Time Symmetry System and the Cascaded FBG

In this paper, a dual-wavelength narrow-linewidth fiber laser based on parity-time (PT) symmetry theory is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The PT-symmetric filter system consists of two optical couplers (OCs), four polarization controllers (PCs), a polarization beam splitter (PBS), and cascaded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), enabling stable switchable dual-wavelength output and single longitudinal-mode (SLM) operation. The realization of single-frequency oscillation requires precise tuning of the PCs to match gain, loss, and coupling coefficients to ensure that the PT-broken phase occurs. During single-wavelength operation at 1548.71 nm (λ1) over a 60-min period, power and wavelength fluctuations were observed to be 0.94 dB and 0.01 nm, respectively, while for the other wavelength at 1550.91 nm (λ2), fluctuations were measured at 0.76 dB and 0.01 nm. The linewidths of each wavelength were 1.01 kHz and 0.89 kHz, with a relative intensity noise (RIN) lower than −117 dB/Hz. Under dual-wavelength operation, the maximum wavelength fluctuations for λ1 and λ2 were 0.03 nm and 0.01 nm, respectively, with maximum power fluctuations of 3.23 dB and 2.38 dB. The SLM laser source is suitable for applications in long-distance fiber-optic sensing and coherent LiDAR detection.

Generation and control of circular Airy solitons in fractional nonlinear optical systems under different modes

In this paper, the dynamics of the circular Airy beam (CAB) in the spatial fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (FNLSE) optical system are investigated. The propagation characteristics of CABs modulated by the quadratic phase modulation (QPM) in a Kerr (cubic) nonlinear medium under power function diffractive modulation modes and parabolic potentials are numerically simulated by using a step-by-step Fourier method. Specifically, the threshold for CABs to form solitons in the Kerr medium is controlled by the Lévy index and the QPM coefficient. Secondly, the parabolic potential has the ability to stabilize the FNLSE optical system, making it easier for the formation of CAB solitons. The addition of QPM allows the refocusing of the split beam caused by the Lévy index, and it can change the position and intensity of solitons. Finally, we also study the transmission evolution of QPM-modulated CABs in the Kerr medium under the power function diffraction modulation mode. We can obtain different types of solitons by varying the power function modulation coefficients. A dark soliton with high stability is formed, and we can control its size. Results show that it is possible to optimize the parameter settings (parabolic potential coefficients, power function modulation coefficients, QPM coefficients, Lévy indices, and nonlinear Kerr intensity coefficients) to obtain different types of solitons as well as to modulate the soliton transport. It provides more degrees of freedom for the study of CAB soliton propagation in the Kerr media, which is of great significance and application in fields of nonlinear optical transport, particle manipulation, and optical metrology.

Topological beam splitter based on 2D PC with different beam splitting angles

Photonic devices are prone to reflection losses at defects and corners. Topological photonics proposes robustness of transmission to improve transmission efficiency. In this work, a dielectric photonic crystal structure based on the quantum spin Hall effect is proposed, which has a large topological bandwidth. The transmission characteristics and robustness of the topological boundary state are verified by simulation, and designed and analyzed a topological beam splitter with a beam splitting channel of 60° + 30°. The system has good light transmission stability, suppression of scattering, and defect immunity. Numerical analysis shows that the minimum transmission loss is 0.23 dB, while in the case of power equalization the minimum transmission loss is 0.29 dB. The structure has promising applications in the field of all-optical integrated circuits and is expected to promote the practical use of photonic topological insulators in the field of communications.