Bessel Beams Research Articles

Unidirectional guided-wave-driven metasurfaces for arbitrary wavefront control

Metasurfaces are capable of fully reshaping the wavefronts of incident beams in desired manners. However, the requirement for external light excitation and the resonant nature of their meta-atoms, make challenging their on-chip integration. Here, we introduce the concept and design of a fresh class of metasurfaces, driven by unidirectional guided waves, capable of arbitrary wavefront control based on the unique dispersion properties of unidirectional guided waves rather than resonant meta-atoms. Upon experimentally demonstrating the feasibility of our designs in the microwave regime, we numerically validate the introduced principle through the design of several microwave meta-devices using metal-air-gyromagnetic unidirectional surface magneto-plasmons, agilely converting unidirectional guided modes into the wavefronts of 3D Bessel beams, focused waves, and controllable vortex beams. We, further, numerically demonstrate sub-diffraction focusing, which is beyond the capability of conventional metasurfaces. Our unfamiliar yet practical designs may enable full, broadband manipulation of electromagnetic waves on deep subwavelength scales.

Combined axicon design based on a structural parameter optimization algorithm

This study proposes a combined axicon (CA) design method based on a structural parameter optimization algorithm designed to rapidly address the demands of practical application scenarios, precisely tailor structural parameters, and produce high-quality Bessel beams (HQ-QBBs) that satisfy specific requirements. Compared to generating an HQ–QBB using an axicon, our method effectively overcomes the shortcomings of fewer tunable factors, a large number of high-energy side-lobes, and limited non-diffractive regions. Through detailed analyses of the transmission characteristics, imaging characteristics, and thick-sample detection ability of the generated HQ-QBB, the significant advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated. The proposed method is not only relevant to current research but also demonstrates wide-ranging application potential in future lens designs.

Tunable optical force on a perovskite-coated gold nanosphere by a polarized Bessel beam

The optical force on a perovskite-coated gold nanosphere by a polarized Bessel beam is investigated in the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT) framework. The dielectric function of the gold core is described using the Drude-Sommerfeld model, and the cesium silver bismuth bromide (CABB) is considered for the coating. The axial optical forces F z are numerically calculated. The effects of both beam parameters (half-cone angle α0, order l, polarization) and the thickness of the coating are discussed. Numerical results show that the optical force peaks can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the coating. However, the half-cone angle α0 and order l can only change the magnitude of the optical force. The optical force can be tuned by changing beam parameters (α0, l), and the coating thickness of particles. The obtained results demonstrate potential applications for the trapped perovskite gold nanosphere.

Optical Halo: A Proof of Concept for a New Broadband Microrheology Tool.

Microrheology, the study of material flow at micron scales, has advanced significantly since Robert Brown's discovery of Brownian motion in 1827. Mason and Weitz's seminal work in 1995 established the foundation for microrheology techniques, enabling the measurement of viscoelastic properties of complex fluids using light-scattering particles. However, existing techniques face limitations in exploring very slow dynamics, crucial for understanding biological systems. Here, we present a proof of concept for a novel microrheology technique called "Optical Halo", which utilises a ring-shaped Bessel beam created by optical tweezers to overcome existing limitations. Through numerical simulations and theoretical analysis, we demonstrate the efficacy of the Optical Halo in probing viscoelastic properties across a wide frequency range, including low-frequency regimes inaccessible to conventional methods. This innovative approach holds promise for elucidating the mechanical behaviour of complex biological fluids.

Thick Glass High-Quality Cutting by Ultrafast Laser Bessel Beam Perforation-Assisted Separation.

The cutting of thick glass is extensively employed in aerospace, optical, and other fields. Although ultrafast laser Bessel beams are heavily used for glass cutting, the cutting thickness and cutting quality need to be further improved. In this research, the high-quality cutting of thick glass was realized for the first time using ultrafast laser perforation assisted by CO2 laser separation. Initially, an infrared picosecond laser Bessel beam was employed to ablate the soda-lime glass and generate a perforated structure. Subsequently, a CO2 laser was employed to induce crack propagation along the path of the perforated structure, resulting in the separation of the glass. This study investigates the influence of hole spacing, pulse energy, and the defocusing distance of the picosecond laser Bessel beam on the average surface roughness of the glass sample cutting surface. The optimal combination of cutting parameters for 6 mm thick glass results in a minimum surface roughness of 343 nm in the cross-section.

Bessel beam fabrication of graphitic micro electrodes in diamond using laser bursts

We present the fabrication of conductive graphitic microelectrodes in diamond by using pulsed Bessel beams in the burst mode laser writing regime. The graphitic wires are created in the bulk of a 500 μm thick monocrystalline HPHT diamond (with (100) orientation) perpendicular to the sample surface, without beam scanning or sample translation. In particular, the role of different burst features in the resistivity of such electrodes is investigated for two very different sub-pulse durations namely 200 fs and 10 ps, together with the role of thermal annealing. Micro-Raman spectroscopy is implemented to investigate the laser-induced crystalline modification, and the results obtained by using two different laser repetition rates, namely 20 Hz and 200 kHz, are compared. A comparison of the micro-Raman spectra and of the resistivity of the electrodes fabricated respectively with 10 ps single pulses and with bursts (of sub-pulses) of similar total duration has also been made, and we show that the burst mode writing regime allows to fabricate more conductive micro electrodes, thanks to the heat accumulation process leading to stronger graphitization. Moreover, the microfabrication of diamond by means of the longest available bursts (~ 46.7 ps duration) featured by 32 sub-pulses of 200 fs duration, with intra-burst time delay of 1.5 ps (sub-THz bursts), leads to graphitic wires with the lowest resistivity values obtained in this work, especially at low repetition rate such as 20 Hz. Indeed, micro electrodes with resistivity on the order of 0.01 Ω cm can be fabricated by Bessel beams in the burst mode regime even when the bursts are constituted by femtosecond laser sub-pulses, in contrast with the results of the standard writing regime with single fs pulses typically leading to less conductive micro electrodes.

Theoretical design of a single-mode fiber-based bi-order Bessel beam for a STED system

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy has attracted great research attention due to its applications to breaking diffraction limits for imaging and lithography. However, its implementation based on single-mode fibers often encounters challenges such as complex structural integration, costly fabrication processes, and the need for specific fiber designs. Herein, a low-cost bi-order Bessel beam based on one single-mode fiber integrated with a structurally simple wavelength-scale microstructure (WSM) on fiber end was proposed for STED system. Through simulation study for full-scale WSM optimization, we have successfully developed a bicolor laser beam (BLB) consisting of a zero-order Bessel beam at a wavelength of 405 nm and a donuts high-order Bessel beam at a wavelength of 532 nm. This fiber-based configuration allows us to achieve a diffraction-limited spot size with a working distance of 0.67λpump and a minimum FWHM of 0.395λpump. By combining wavelength division multiplexing technology with power modulation of the donuts beam, this work provides a promising way for achieving super-resolution imaging or lithography with only one single-mode fiber.

High-Resolution Recognition of Orbital Angular Momentum Modes in Asymmetric Bessel Beams Assisted by Deep Learning

Abstract Fractional orbital angular momentum (OAM) vortex beams present a promising way to increase the data throughput in optical communication systems. Nevertheless, high-precision recognition of fractional OAM with different propagation distances remains a significant challenge. We develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) method to realize high-resolution recognition of OAM modalities, leveraging asymmetric Bessel beams imbued with fractional OAM. Experimental results prove that our method achieves a recognition accuracy exceeding 94.3% for OAM modes, with an interval of 0.05, and maintains a high recognition accuracy above 92% across varying propagation distances. The findings of our research will be poised to significantly contribute to the deployment of fractional OAM beams within the domain of optical communications.

Generation of parallel Bessel beams and cosine Bessel beams based on metasurface

In view of the powerful light field manipulation ability of metasurface and the wide applications of Bessel beams, parallel Bessel beams are generated based on a simple metasurface design. The proposed metasurface consists of cross nanoholes and the orders of the generated parallel Bessel beams can be modulated. Theoretical analysis provides the detailed design principle of metasurface to generate parallel Bessel beams. Parallel Bessel beams and parallel cosine Bessel beams are generated and the simulation and experimental results give the verification. With respect to the single Bessel beam, the generated parallel Bessel beams with controllable orders may bring more conveniences for the applications of Bessel beams. The simple geometry, parallel output and the controllable order will inspire wider applications of Bessel beams.

Evaluating the beam shape coefficients of Bessel–Gauss beams with radial quadrature: a comparison with angular spectrum decomposition and finite series methods

The Bessel–Gauss beam (BGB) stands as a physically realizable beam extensively employed in applications such as micromanipulation and optical trapping. In these contexts, the assessment of beam shape coefficients (BSCs) becomes imperative. Previous research reveals that the BSCs of the BGBs obtained with different methods deviate from each other under certain circumstances. In this paper, the formulation of BSCs employs the radial quadrature method, and a comparative analysis is conducted with counterparts formulated using the angular spectrum decomposition and the finite series technique. Contributions stemming from evanescent waves and the situation of the BSC blowing-ups are discussed, offering a deep insight of pertinent BSC evaluation methods. The paper provides an alternative approach for calculating the BSCs of the BGBs.

Scattering properties of dual Bessel beams on chiral layered particle

The paper investigates the scattering analytical solution of arbitrary direction double zero-order Bessel beams (ZOBBs) incident on a non-uniform layered chiral sphere. Using the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT), the electromagnetic field expansion expression of the double ZOBBs is obtained through the vector superposition of the spherical vector wave functions (SVWFs). Analytical solutions of the scattering on chiral layered particles by dual Bessel beams are derived based on the boundary condition. The iterative coefficient equations are constructed to obtain the expansion coefficients of the SVWFs in each region of the multi-layer chiral sphere. The variation of radar cross section (RCS) with angular distribution is numerically simulated, and the scattering results of layered chiral spheres degenerated into isotropic layered spheres are compared with the literature, which verifies the correctness of the theory and program. The effects of incident angle, polarization angle, cone angle and chiral parameters on the scattering characteristics of far region and internal field of the layered chiral particle are analyzed in detail. The theory and results can offer significant assistance in studying the optical properties of non-uniform chiral particles and complex biological cells irradiated by multiple beams and may also provide important practical value in the micromanipulation of multi-layered biological structures.

Nanosecond Laser Fabrication of Dammann Grating-like Structure on Glass for Bessel-Beam Array Generation

The generation of optical beam arrays with prospective uses within the realms of microscopy, photonics, non-linear optics, and material processing often requires Dammann gratings. Here, we report the direct fabrication of one- and two-dimensional Dammann grating-like structures on soda lime glass using a nanosecond pulsed laser beam with a 1064 nm wavelength. Using the fabricated grating, an axicon lens, and an optical magnification system, we propose a scheme of generation of a diverging array of zero-order Bessel beams with a sub-micron-size central core, extending longitudinally over several hundred microns. Two different grating fabrication strategies are also proposed to control the number of Bessel beams in an array. It was demonstrated that Bessel beams of 12 degrees conical half-angle in an array of up to [5 × 5] dimensions can be generated using a suitable combination of Dammann grating, axicon lens and focusing optics.

Tissue characterization using axicon probe-assisted common-path optical coherence tomography

In this work, a common-path optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is demonstrated for characterizing the tissue in terms of some optical properties. A negative axicon structure chemically etched inside the fiber tip is employed as optical probe in the OCT. This probe generates a quality Bessel beam owning a large depth-of-field, ∼700 µm and small central spot size, ∼3 µm. The OCT system is probing the sample without using any microscopic lens. For experimental validation, the OCT imaging of chicken tissue has been obtained along with estimation of its refractive index and optical attenuation coefficient. Afterwards, the cancerous tissue is differentiated from the normal tissue based on the OCT imaging, refractive index, and optical attenuation coefficient. The respective tissue samples are collected from the human liver and pancreas. This probe could be a useful tool for endoscopic or minimal-invasive inspection of malignancy inside the tissue either at early-stage or during surgery.

Information propagation of focus wave mode localized waves in anisotropic turbulent seawater

The evolution of the information transfer capability of an optical system for underwater focused wave mode localized wave (FWMLW) in anisotropic weakly turbulent absorbing seawater is studied. By developing the probability distribution function as well as the detection probability of the vortex modes carried by the FWMLW and the average bit error rate of the FWMLW underwater system, the information capacity of the FWMLW system with a pointing error is modeled. Through a numerical analysis of the effects of turbulent seawater and optical system parameters on the built light intensity, the detection probability, and the information capacity models, we find that the FWMLW system has an optimal delay time determined by the spectrum bandwidth when the spectrum bandwidth is greater than 1. The information capacity of the FWMLW system is higher than that of the X localized wave system under the same turbulent seawater channel condition, and FWMLW is a better optical signal source for vortex mode division multiplexing underwater systems than a Bessel–Gaussian beam.

Quasi-Bessel surface acoustic wave for dynamic acoustic manipulation

Acoustic manipulation using surface acoustic wave has aroused widespread interest in life sciences, biomedical, and bioanalytical chemistry. Acoustic manipulation for different applications requires different acoustic fields. Bessel beams are non-diffractive and re-constructable, bringing possibility and versatility of acoustic manipulation integrated on microfluidic chips. To date, there are a few studies on constructing Bessel surface acoustic waves. Moreover, there is still a lack of dynamic acoustic manipulation using Bessel surface acoustic waves propagating along a surface of piezoelectric substrate with simple and high-precision devices. Here, we design a device with two omnidirectional equifrequency interdigital transducers to form a quasi-Bessel surface acoustic wave by means of coherent interference. The proposed device avoids influences of anisotropy on its operating frequency, making its quasi-Bessel beam accurately and stably conform to the predetermined design acoustic field. This acoustic field could control micrometer to submicrometer particles and dynamically move particles along lateral direction and axial direction of the propagation of quasi-Bessel beam. A phenomenon similar to negative force appeared when the two-micron spherical particles were manipulated. The quasi-Bessel beam formed by our device can provide a versatile movement for on-chip acoustic manipulation.

Optical skyrmions in the Bessel profile

Optical skyrmions formed in terms of polarization are topological quasi-particles, and they have garnered much interest in the optical community owing to their unique inhomogeneous polarization structure and simplicity in their experimental realization. These structures belong to the Poincaré beams satisfying the stable topology. We theoretically investigated the non-diffracting and self-healing Poincaré beams based on the superposition of two orthogonal Bessel modes by the longitudinal mode matching technique. These Poincaré beams are topologically protected, and we suggest them as optical skyrmions in the corresponding Stokes vector fields. These optical skyrmions are quasi-skyrmions, and their range of propagation depends on the range of superposed Bessel modes. We have shown longitudinal mode matching of superposed Bessel beams is a necessary condition for the generation of propagation-invariant and non-diffracting skyrmions. The proposed longitudinal mode matching technique facilitates the generation of skyrmions with tunable position and range without any on-axis intensity modulations along the propagation axis. A suitable experimental configuration is suggested to realize variable order skyrmions in Bessel modes. The suggested experimental configuration can produce optical skyrmions even in ultra-short laser pulses with high mode conversion efficacy. This work can provide a new direction for the generation of skyrmions with completely new textures and features with reference to existing skyrmions originating from Laguerre-Gaussian modes.

Preparation of large-area superhydrophobic and anti-icing 3D micro-nano-structures using femtosecond Bessel beams with fluorination treatment

This study proposes a simple strategy for overcoming the adverse effects of icing on material surfaces and improving the anti-icing performance of these surfaces. First, a femtosecond Gaussian beam is transformed into a femtosecond Bessel beam through spatial shaping to improve its energy distribution in the propagation direction while avoiding the adverse effects of defocusing during processing, thereby achieving large-area, consistent micro-nano-fabrication. Subsequently, the surface wettability of the considered material is controlled through the preparation of a functionalized three-dimensional micro-nano-structure using fluorination, transforming the material surface from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic, thereby directly preventing the adhesion of subcooled droplets. Static-droplet condensation tests and dynamic anti-icing tests in simulated freezing-rain environments demonstrated that the proposed strategy can considerably increase the droplet condensation time and reduce the amount of surface icing. Overall, the strategy provides an efficient, high-quality, highly reproducible solution to the problem of surface icing.

Particle transport along the circular trajectory of a semi-infinite Bessel acoustic beam

We explored the propagation of semi-infinite accelerating Bessel beams along circular trajectories beyond the paraxial approximation. Until now, the complex nature of these beams has posed a challenge for the development of construction methods, resulting in primarily theoretical research within the field of acoustics. In this study, we successfully achieved experimental realization of these beams in the acoustic domain using our previously proposed acoustic Fourier transform system, which involves phase modulation through a holographic lens and Fourier transformation through a cylindrical focusing reflector. Our results demonstrate that these beams exhibit accelerated propagation along circular trajectories. Moreover, we experimentally generated and directly observed these highly curved beams during the transportation of micro-particles, where they undergo substantial bending at large angles.

Transformation of Longitudinally Customizable Curved Vector Vortex Beams Using Dielectric Metasurface

AbstractIn recent years, the emergence of metasurfaces has brought revolutionary changes to the generation and processing of vortex beams, triggering widespread research interest. Meanwhile, the longitudinally varying features of propagating beams provide new design freedom for realizing multi‐dimensional optical manipulation and promote the advancements of related areas such as microscopic detection, microfabrication, and biomedical applications. In addition, self‐accelerating Bessel beams are promising for a wide range of applications such as particle manipulation and medicine due to their nondiffracting, self‐healing as well as obstacle avoidance properties. In this paper, a novel kind of curved transmitted high‐order Bessel beams with longitudinally varying features based on form‐birefringent metasurface, by simultaneously manipulating the phase profiles of output orthogonal polarization components is demonstrated. Multiple dimensions of the beam, including the propagation trajectory, polarization state, and orbital angular momentum, can be tailored arbitrarily. For verifying the feasibility of the demonstrated method, two samples with different propagation trajectories, as well as different variations of orbital angular momentum, are designed and experimentally demonstrated. Such a novel approach can open new doors for the manipulation of vortex beams and can be used for depth sensing and distance measurement in complex environments.

Performance evaluation and comparative research of underwater wireless optical communication system by using different structured beams

Structured beams have attracted increasing interest in free-space and fiber-based optical communications. Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is becoming a prospective technique in marine exploration. We investigated UWOC performance using different representative structured beams. The transmission performances of the Gaussian, Bessel–Gaussian (BG), Ince–Gaussian (IG), and radially polarized Gaussian (RPG) beams were experimentally demonstrated and evaluated in underwater channels subjected to thermal gradient. The experimental results show that the BG, IG, and RPG perform better against the thermal gradient. Compared with the Gaussian beams, the beam wanders of BG, IG, and RPG beams under the thermal gradient have been reduced by 56.9%, 8.2%, and 59%, the scintillation indices have been decreased by 12.8%, 17.3%, and 28.9%, and the BER performance of the BG, IG, and RPG beams have been improved by ∼5.5, ∼3.7, and ∼5.2dB at the forward error correction threshold (FEC threshold). Based on the above results, the RPG beam is a more promising light source for UWOC. The experimental results provide a promising beam choice for UWOC.