Optical Assembly Research Articles

Design of true zero-order half-wave plates using KCsMoP2O9 crystal: A novel molybdophosphate material with extremely small birefringence

The true zero-order half-wave plates (HWPs) with millimeter thicknesses were manufactured using the KCsMoP2O9 (KCMP) crystal with extremely small birefringence (Δn = 0.007 at 1064 nm). The designed KCMP HWPs showed small sensibility (wavelength, temperature, and angle), wide operating waveband (50 nm at >200:1), good thermal stability (>900:1 at 80oC), high extinction ratio (>2500:1), and excellent phase-retardation characteristics. In addition, an optical attenuator assembly of KCMP HWP (A16M0) and polarizers was designed. The transmittance could be adjusted well from 0 to 1 by the designed optical attenuator, comparable to commercial quartz HWP (glued zero-order HWP). All results indicated that the KCMP crystal is a good candidate as a wave plate material with the potential for polarization modulation in optical systems.

Design and Manufacture of 30-Degree Projection Lens for Augmented Reality Waveguide.

A projection lens with a 30-degree field of view is developed for use in augmented reality (AR) glasses, including a waveguide combiner designed for a 0.35-inch LCoS panel. The entrance pupil diameter of the lens is 14 mm and the lens has an effective focal length of 16.443 mm; an F-number of 1.175. This paper has four key issues: optical projection lens design, lens manufacturing and assembly tolerance analysis, projection lens resolution testing, and AR glasses system resolution testing of panel images projected by the projection lens. After lens manufacture, the lens was tested, achieving a central field image quality of 57 cycles/mm, an angular resolution of 33 pixels per degree (PPD), a 0.7 field image quality of 40.3 cycles/mm, and an angular resolution of 23 pixels per degree (PPD). Imaging performance testing based on a diffraction-type waveguide shows a resolution of 57 cycles/mm in the center area and an angular resolution of 33 PPD.

Analysis of the optical performance of intraocular lenses using profilometric measurements.

The aim of this study was to develop a methodology, based on profilometer measurements to assess the optical behaviour of Intraocular Lenses (IOls). The "Modulation Transfer Function through-object" (MTF through-object) based on vergence object displacement was calculated for different pupil sizes and pseudophakic eyes. Tilt and decentration were also analysed in a realistic cornea eye model. For comparison between the different IOLs, an optical quality criterion based on a minimum value the MTF through-object and the recognition of simulated vision optotypes was introduced. Five IOLs were used in this study: Tecnis Eyhance, Mini Well, Tecnis Symfony, Tecnis Synergy and RayOne EMV. The technique was validated with previous methodologies. A general narrowing of the through-object MTF curve compared to the through-focus MTF curve was shown, resulting in greater distances between near and intermediate points and less depth of field around the far peak. The comparison between the IOLs showed that variations in corneal aberrations, pupil size and decentration caused relevant changes in IOL performance. A decrease of the SA produced a hypermetropic shift of the far focus between + 0.3 D and + 0.4 D. Most of IOLs worsen the optical quality as pupil size increased, even the MTF through-object shape changed. Decentration was an important factor in IOL implantation, causing a significant change in MTF through-object shape in most of IOLs. This study highlights the need to evaluate pre-operative patients for corneal aberrations and pupillary size to have the best optical success after cataract surgery in multifocal or extended depth of focus IOLs. What is known MTF(Modulation Transfer Function)through-focus curves (calculated in image space by moving the detector plane) can be obtained from optical bench assembly or from commercial devices. Recently, some studies proposed to characterize the lens surface design based on the profilometric measurements What is new A novel methodology based on profilometer measurements to assess the optical behaviour of Intraocular Lenses (IOls) was shown. The "Modulation Transfer Function through-object" based on vergence object displacement was introduced in order to analyse five premium IOLs. MTF through-object curve is more appropriate for studying clinical behaviour, as it provides further near and intermediate points distances and lower depth of focus around far peak compare to MTF through-focus curves. The optical behaviour of the five IOLs can vary considerably depending on the eye model and pupil size. The effect of tilt and decentration on the MTF through-object the IOLs was analysed.

Symmetry-Guided Engineering of Polarization by 2D Moiré Metasurfaces.

Cylindrical vector (CV) beams exhibit spatially varying polarization important in optical communication, super-resolution microscopy, and high-throughput information processing. Compared to radially or azimuthally polarized CV beams that are cylindrically symmetric, hybrid-electric (HE) beams offer increased optical tunability because of their polygonally symmetric polarizations. However, efforts to generate and isolate HE beams have relied on bulky optical assemblies or devices with complex and stringent fabrication requirements. Here, we report a moiré-based metasurface approach to engineer HE polarization states with high degrees of rotational symmetry. Importantly, polarization symmetries can be tailored based only on the reciprocal lattice of the metasurface and not the real-space patterns. Our modular method outlines important design principles for shaping light at the nanoscale.

Collection optics of JT-60SA edge Thomson scattering diagnostic.

The mission of the JT-60SA project is to complement ITER's capabilities by addressing the fundamental physics and engineering challenges necessary to develop a practical and reliable fusion power plant. Diagnostics play a pivotal role in achieving this mission, especially the Thomson Scattering (TS) diagnostic systems developed by a collaborative Japan-EU team. The edge Thomson scattering of JT-60SA is tailored to measure the low field side outer region of the plasma, in particular, to resolve the electron temperature Te and density ne. The collection optics of the edge TS system have a critical role in meeting the required field of view and spatial resolution despite the limited space. This work presents a comprehensive optomechanical design of the optics assembly, whose main features are telecentricity and compactness, highlighting its capabilities. The tests undertaken to verify its performance: focal plane identification, thermal cycle, and magnification, are described.

Numerical investigation of the effect of enforced air flow in a closed cavity on temperature distribution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate crystal with a large aperture

The temperature distribution of a novel Final optics assembly (FOA) made of a square ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) crystal with a large aperture is examined numerically in this noncritical phase-matching simulation (NCPM). The temperature of the cavity wall is maintained by temperature-controlled, continuously flowing (0.1 m/s) water (313.5 k). The thermal study was first performed numerically inside the cavity with different configurations using the finite volume technique. One fan was placed on one side of the ADP crystal to evaluate the temperature distribution within the cavity and between the crystals. The fan speed is then varied from 10 to 40 rad/s with a step interval of 10 rad/s to evaluate the effect of forced convection. Furthermore, the investigation showed that 20 rad/s is more effective than the other cases. To measure the impact of temperature distribution caused by fan orientation, the fan orientation was adjusted to three different tilt angles (10, 20, and 30 degrees) while the fan rotational speed was maintained at 20 rad/s. The two fans on the side and the two fans on either side of the ADP crystal were also investigated, with different orientations (0, 10, and 20 degrees) and speeds (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 rad/s). According to the fan speed, direction, number of speeds, and fan locations, the high-temperature spot of ADP crystals can be symmetric, asymmetric, diagonally dominant, center dominant, bottom dominant, or top dominant.

Development of a full aperture backscatter system for the Orion laser.

A full aperture backscatter system (FABS) is currently in development on the Orion laser at AWE to measure scattered light from the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) processes. The light is to be collected through the full aperture of the final optic assembly and traverse back down the beam path, with fractions of this light being directed to an optics table. By measuring the energy of this backscattered light, it is possible to gain insight into some of the laser-plasma instabilities that are present on the laser system and should give an indication of some of the scattered light losses due to the SBS and SRS processes. The uncontrolled scattered light can lead to hotter electrons, which then preheat the target causing a degradation in compression and can inhibit ignition in inertial confinement fusion experiments, as well as secondary instabilities whereby the scattered light may in itself cause further LPIs, such as two-ion decay or the Langmuir decay instability. The FABS diagnostic on Orion is planned to enhance the plasma diagnostics suite available and provide quantitative guidance on increasing the energy coupling. Current progress includes the characterization of filters and, hence, a broadband xenon lamp to be used in measuring the transmission efficiency of the optics chain, desktop alignment of the backscatter optics, and characterization of the streak cameras.

Chiral Cationic Chromophores: A New Class of Efficient Ultrabroadband Organic THz Crystals

AbstractA strategic approach to develop efficient ultra‐broadband terahertz (THz) crystals involves the incorporation of different electron donating groups (EDGs) into cationic chromophores. In contrast to the widely utilized non‐cyclic 4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl (DA) EDG, cyclic 5‐membered 4‐(2‐(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine‐1‐yl)phenyl (PB) and cyclic 6‐membered 4‐(3‐(hydroxymethyl)piperidin‐1‐yl)phenyl (PN) EDGs exhibit an asymmetrical shape with a strongly interacting hydroxymethyl group at the chiral center. Notably, the PB EDG shows narrower intrinsic vibrational states with lower conformational flexibility and smaller ring flips compared to the PN EDG. In the crystalline state, introducing the PB EDG leads to the formation of a new class of nonlinear optical assembly, the so‐called stair‐type cation‐anion assembly. This assembly demonstrates optimal chromophore alignment with state‐of‐the‐art effective first hyperpolarizability (209 × 10−30 esu). Furthermore, the PB EDG‐based crystals exhibit significantly lower THz absorption compared to previously reported benchmark crystals. In THz wave generation experiments, PB EDG‐based crystals demonstrate state‐of‐the‐art efficiency and ultrabroad spectral bandwidth, featuring a cut‐off frequency of up to 16 THz.

The Prediction of Incremental Damage on Optics from the Final Optic Assembly in an ICF High-Power Laser Facility

High-power laser facilities necessitate predicting incremental damage to final optics to identify evolving damage trends. In this study, we propose a surface damage detection method utilizing image segmentation employing ResNet-18 and a damage area estimation network employing U-Net++. Paired sets of online and offline images of optics obtained from a large laser facility are used to train the network. The trends of varying damage could be identified by incorporating additional experimental parameters. A key advantage of the proposed method is that the network can be trained end to end on small samples, eliminating the need for manual labeling or feature extraction. The software developed based on these models can facilitate the daily inspection and maintenance of optics in large laser facilities. By effectively applying deep learning techniques, we successfully addressed the challenges faced by traditional methods in handling complex environments, achieving the accurate identification and prediction of damages on optics.

Design for a virtual reality head-mounted display with holographic pancake optics

A design for a head-mounted display using holographic optical elements (HOEs) and pancake optics is presented. The pancake optics assembly consists of a circular polarization, quarter-wave film, and a coated 50/50 (semi-transmissive and semi-reflective) aspherical lens. The HOE and pancake optics combination was employed to reduce the volume of the system. For this design, the effective focal length was 10.901 mm, the field of view was 30 deg, and the f-number was 3.633. In terms of image quality, the modulation transfer function (MTF) values for all fields exceeded 0.3 at 65 lp/mm. The MTF values for all fields under the tolerance error also exceeded 0.3 lp/mm. The maximum optical distortion was less than 2%. The impact of the efficiency of diffracted and non-diffracted light on the visibility was analyzed to select the appropriate reflectance for the coating of the 50/50 aspherical lens and the highest hologram diffraction efficiency to achieve the best visibility.

Measurement and optimization of writing light field uniformity in dual-galvanometer laser scanning lithography system

The light field uniformity (LFU) in lithography system is a key factor in defining the resolution across the entire micro/nano structures. In this work, a cost-effective and straightforward method based on the focused laser marking on heat-mode resist is proposed for measuring and optimizing the LFU. The factors affecting the LFU are analyzed from the perspectives of optical system aberrations and mechanical assembly error. Subsequently, marking patterns with special structures are designed based on the properties of the heat-mode resist. By analyzing the marked patterns, the LFU of the system is obtained with uniformity coefficient is 42.24%. After optimization achieved by dynamic laser power adjustment, the uniformity coefficient was notably enhanced to 96.11%. This work provides an effective method for measuring and optimizing the LFU in dual-galvanometer laser scanning lithography system.

Development of Micro/Nano Pattern Arrays with Grating-Based Periodic Structures using the Direct Laser Lithography System

Introduction: This research delves into utilizing the Direct Laser Lithography System to produce micro/nanopattern arrays with grating-based periodic structures. Initially, refining the variation in periodic structures within these arrays becomes a pivotal pursuit. This demands a deep comprehension of how structural variation aligns with specific applications, particularly in photonics and material science. Method: Advancements in hardware, software, or process optimization techniques hold potential for reaching this objective. Using an optical beam, this system enables the engraving of moderate periodic and quasi-periodic structures, enhancing pattern formation in a three-dimensional environment. Through cost-effective direct-beam interferometry systems utilizing 405 nm GaN and 290 to 780 nm AlInGaN semiconductor laser diodes, patterns ranging from in period were created, employing 300 nm gratings. Result: The system's cost-efficiency and ability to achieve high-resolution permit the creation of both regular and irregular grating designs. By employing an optical head assembly from a bluray disc recorder, housing a semiconductor laser diode and an objective lens with an NA of 0.85, this system displays promising potential in progressing the fabrication of micro/nanopattern arrays. Conclusion: Assessing their optical, mechanical, and electrical properties and exploring potential applications across varied fields like optoelectronics, photovoltaics, sensors, and biomedical devices represent critical strides for further exploration and advancement.

An electromechanically driven dielectric elastomer based tunable reflector

Deformable optics offer numerous advantages over conventional optical assemblies, including compactness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility. This study focuses on a reflector based on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with an internal fluid (air) coupling. DEAs are a class of electroactive materials adept at accommodating substantial actuation strains and rapid responses. Fluid distributed between the active and passive parts remains entirely enclosed by the device and transmits actuation pneumatically. Dynamic maneuvers conducted through a series of controlled electrical signals demonstrate proper control over optical characteristics. However, DEs exhibit inherent flaws in dynamic actuation, referred to as instabilities, which are mitigated by applying an initial pre-stretch. The study identifies optimal parameters that confer stability to the reflector: minimum to no creep, zero residual vibrations, and low viscous losses. An analytical framework is developed to assess device performance, focusing on the spherical curvature assumption that closely resembles the behavior of tunable spherical reflectors. Additionally, an optical bench setup is employed to demonstrate the relationship between focal length and applied pressure. Notably, this paper underscores the potential of a DE-based variable focal length reflector to function effectively within a dynamic environment.

Nanoscale Helical Optical Force for Determining Crystal Chirality.

The deterministic control of material chirality has been a sought-after goal. As light possesses intrinsic chirality, light-matter interactions offer promising avenues for achieving non-contact, enantioselective optical induction, assembly, or sorting of chiral entities. However, experimental validations are confined to the microscale due to the limited strength of asymmetrical interactions within sub-diffraction limit ranges. In this study, a novel approach is presented to facilitate chirality modulation through chiral crystallization using a helical optical force field originating from localized nanogap surface plasmon resonance. The force field emerges near a gold trimer nanogap and is propelled by linear and angular momentum transfer from the incident light to the resonant nanogap plasmon. By employing Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian incident laser beams, notable enantioselectivity is achieved through low-power plasmon-induced chiral crystallization of an organic compound-ethylenediamine sulfate. The findings provide new insights into chirality transmission orchestrated by the exchange of linear and angular momentum between light and nanomaterials.

A Portable Infrared System for Identification of Particulate Matter.

Occupational exposure to airborne dust is responsible for numerous respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Because of these hazards, air samples are regularly collected on filters and sent for laboratory analysis to ensure compliance with regulations. Unfortunately, this approach often takes weeks to provide a result, which makes it impossible to identify dust sources or protect workers in real time. To address these challenges, we developed a system that characterizes airborne dust by its spectro-chemical profile. In this device, a micro-cyclone concentrates particles from the air and introduces them into a hollow waveguide where an infrared signature is obtained. An algorithm is then used to quantitate the composition of respirable particles by incorporating the infrared features of the most relevant chemical groups and compensating for Mie scattering. With this approach, the system can successfully differentiate mixtures of inorganic materials associated with construction sites in near-real time. The use of a free-space optic assembly improves the light throughput significantly, which enables detection limits of approximately 10 µg/m3 with a 10 minute sampling time. While respirable crystalline silica was the focus of this work, it is hoped that the flexibility of the platform will enable different aerosols to be detected in other occupational settings.

Recent Patents for Optical Alignment

Background: The installation of optical devices is a necessary operation before their use. Therefore, the configuration of the optical system affects the performance of the whole optical system. However, in the process of optical system installation, there are still some technical breakthroughs to be made in order to better carry out optical system installation in the future. Objective: Through the introduction and discussion of the devices, methods and patent features of optical alignment testing in recent years, some valuable conclusions are summarized, and future research and development are prospected. Methods: The patents of optical system assembly were studied, and the patents and research progress of optical alignment were summarized. Results: With the development of optical technology, optical alignment has become more and more important, so optical alignment is needed to realize the design of optical systems. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is still a large space for the development of optical alignment, and the main development trend is towards high precision and large caliber

Optical assembly of multi-particle arrays by opto-hydrodynamic binding of microparticles close to a one-dimensional chain of magnetic microparticles.

Two-dimensional materials possess a large number of interesting and important properties. Various methods have been developed to assemble two-dimensional aggregates. Assembly of colloidal particles can be achieved with laser-heating-induced thermal convective flow. In this paper, an opto-hydrodynamic binding method is proposed to assemble colloidal particles dispersed in a solution into multilayer structures. First, we use polystyrene (PS) microspheres to study the feasibility and characteristics of the assembly method. PS microspheres and monodispersed magnetic silica microspheres (SLEs) are dispersed in a solution to form a binary mixture system. Under the action of an external uniform magnetic field, SLEs in the solution form chains. An SLE chain is heated by a laser beam. Due to the photothermal effect, the SLE chain is heated to produce a thermal gradient, resulting in thermal convection. The thermal convection drives the PS beads to move toward the heated SLE chain and finally stably assemble into multilayer aggregates on both sides of the SLE chain. The laser power affects the speed and result of the assembly. When the laser power is constant, the degree of constraint of the PS microbeads in different layers is also different. At the same time, this method can also assemble the biological cells, and the spacing of different layers of cells can be changed by changing the electrolyte concentration of the solution. Our work provides an approach to assembling colloidal particles and cells, which has a potential application in the analysis of the collective dynamics of microparticles and microbes.

Lightweight and High-Stiffness Metal Optical Systems Based on Additive Manufacturing.

To build a long-wave infrared catadioptric optical system for deep space low-temperature target detection with a lightweight and wide field of view, this work conducted a study that encompasses a local cooling optical system, topology optimization-based metal mirror design, and additive manufacturing. First, a compact catadioptric optical system with local cooling was designed. This system features a 55 mm aperture, a 110 mm focal length, and a 4-degree by 4-degree field of view. Secondly, we applied the principles of topology optimization to design the primary mirror assembly, the secondary mirror assembly, and the connecting baffle. The third and fourth modes achieved a resonance frequency of 1213.7 Hz. Then, we manufactured the mirror assemblies using additive manufacturing and single-point diamond turning, followed by the centering assembly method to complete the optical assembly. Lastly, we conducted performance testing on the system, with the test results revealing that the modulation transfer function (MTF) curves of the optical system reached the diffraction limit across the entire field of view. Remarkably, the system's weight was reduced to a mere 96.04 g. The use of additive manufacturing proves to be an effective means of enhancing optical system performance.

Real-Time AI-Assisted Push-Broom Hyperspectral System for Precision Agriculture.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern agriculture, the integration of advanced technologies has become indispensable for optimizing crop management and ensuring sustainable food production. This paper presents the development and implementation of a real-time AI-assisted push-broom hyperspectral system for plant identification. The push-broom hyperspectral technique, coupled with artificial intelligence, offers unprecedented detail and accuracy in crop monitoring. This paper details the design and construction of the spectrometer, including optical assembly and system integration. The real-time acquisition and classification system, utilizing an embedded computing solution, is also described. The calibration and resolution analysis demonstrates the accuracy of the system in capturing spectral data. As a test, the system was applied to the classification of plant leaves. The AI algorithm based on neural networks allows for the continuous analysis of hyperspectral data relative up to 720 ground positions at 50 fps.

Assembly and Testing of Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) for ARIES Telescopes

This project is focused on evaluating the slowly-varying ground layer seeing component at the optical telescopes of ARIES. To achieve this, we assembled the instrument, consisting of a filter wheel, a CCD camera, and a tip-tilt enabled transparent glass plate integrated within an off-the-shelf unit termed as the AO (Adaptive Optics) unit. The instrument developed by us was deployed on the 1.04-m f/13 Sampurnanand telescope at Manora Peak and the 1.3-m f/4 telescope at Devasthal. This instrument measures the average instantaneous slope (tip/tilt) of the incoming wavefront over the telescope aperture via a fast (within the atmospheric coherence time) sampled image and corrects it via a software-controlled oscillating (tipping/tilting) single thin glass plate. The night observations revealed that the slowly-varying seeing component is significant at both observatories and can be effectively controlled to enhance the sharpness of the celestial images at the two sites. The most significant improvement was measured from 5 arcsec of uncorrected FWHM of a star to 3.4 arcsec of corrected FWHM in the 1.04-m telescope in the evening hours.