Refractive Index Mismatch Research Articles

Quantifying refractive index mismatch effects on cone beam optical CT scanner measurements

A series of experiments are conducted to evaluate the effects of refractive index (RI) mismatch in readout with a Vista cone beam optical CT scanner. The changing optical attenuation in cuvettes of different colours and RI are quantified using a spectrophotometer, which shows decreasing attenuation as RI increases. A small jar of a colourless solution inside a large jar of another colourless solution with different combinations of fluids of varying RI is imaged in the Vista scanner. Large RI solutions surrounding small RI solutions create a converging lens, while small RI solutions surrounding large RI solutions create a diverging lens. The same dual-jar system is used with solutions of varying RI and colour (attenuation) to assess the effect of RI on attenuation coefficient determination.

Correction of spherical aberration in multi-focal multiphoton microscopy with spatial light modulator.

We demonstrate that high-quality images of the deep regions of a thick sample can be obtained from its surface by multi-focal multiphoton microscopy (MMM). The MMM system incorporates a spatial light modulator to separate the excitation beam into a multi-focal excitation beam and modulate the pre-distortion wavefront to correct spherical aberration (SA) caused by a refractive index mismatch between the immersion medium and the biological sample. When fluorescent beads in transparent epoxy resin were observed using four SA-corrected focal beams, the fluorescence signal of the obtained images was ~52 times higher than that obtained without SA correction until a depth of ~1100 μm, similar to the result for single-focal multiphoton microscopy (SMM). The MMM scanning time was four times less than that for SMM, and MMM showed an improved fluorescence intensity and depth resolution for an image of blood vessels in the brain of a mouse stained with a fluorescent dye.

Ray tracing matrix approach for refractive index mismatch aberrations in confocal microscopy.

The 2×2 ray tracing matrix (RTM) method is employed for the description of optical aberrations caused by the refractive index mismatch (RIM) in fluorescent confocal polarization microscopy. We predict and experimentally confirm that due to the RIM a liquid crystal layer with highly non-uniform director distribution appears to be imaged as a layer with non-uniform thickness, which shows up in the roughness of the rear surface. For the off-axial focusing of the probing beam in a droplet dispersed in an immiscible liquid, we have developed an extended method still keeping the 2×2 dimensionality of the RTM.

Investigation of laser speckle noise suppression by using polymer-stabilized liquid crystals within twisted nematic cell

We propose a robust method to suppress laser speckle using a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) device with high initial transmittance. With applied voltage, a large modulation depth has been produced through light scattering because of the refractive index mismatch between the rotated nematic liquid crystals and the polymer networks. By using PSLCs with 5 wt % monomer, a speckle noise reduction rate of approximately 54.7% can be achieved with an applied voltage of 6 V. The lowest speckle contrast of approximately 0.025 with relatively high discrimination from the projected AF image has also been demonstrated through a wedge PSLC cell.

Quantitative Chemical Imaging of Nonplanar Microfluidics.

Confocal and multiphoton optical imaging techniques have been powerful tools for evaluating the performance of and monitoring experiments within microfluidic devices, but this application suffers from two pitfalls. The first is that obtaining the necessary imaging contrast often requires the introduction of an optical label which can potentially change the behavior of the system. The emerging analytical technique stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy promises a solution, as it can rapidly measure 3D concentration maps based on vibrational spectra, label-free; however, when using any optical imaging technique, including SRS, there is an additional problem of optical aberration due to refractive index mismatch between the fluid and the device walls. New approaches such as 3D printing are extending the range of materials from which microfluidic devices can be fabricated; thus, the problem of aberration can be obviated simply by selecting a chip material that matches the refractive index of the desired fluid. To demonstrate complete chemical imaging of a geometrically complex device, we first use sacrificial molding of a freeform 3D printed template to create a round-channel, 3D helical micromixer in a low-refractive-index polymer. We then use SRS to image the mixing of aqueous glucose and salt solutions throughout the entire helix volume. This fabrication approach enables truly nonperturbative 3D chemical imaging with low aberration, and the concentration profiles measured within the device agree closely with numerical simulations.

Glucose detection in a highly scattering medium with diffuse photon-pair density wave

We propose a novel optical method for glucose measurement based on diffuse photon-pair density wave (DPPDW) in a multiple scattering medium (MSM) where the light scattering of photon-pair is induced by refractive index mismatch between scatters and phantom solution. Experimentally, the DPPDW propagates in MSM via a two-frequency laser (TFL) beam wherein highly correlated pairs of linear polarized photons are generated. The reduced scattering coefficient [Formula: see text] and absorption coefficient [Formula: see text] of DPPDW are measured simultaneously in terms of the amplitude and phase measurements of the detected heterodyne signal under arrangement at different distances between the source and detection fibers in MSM. The results show that the sensitivity of glucose detection via glucose-induced change of reduced scattering coefficient ([Formula: see text]) is 0.049%[Formula: see text]mM[Formula: see text] in a 1% intralipid solution. In addition, the linear range of [Formula: see text] vs glucose concentration implies that this DPPDW method can be used to monitor glucose concentration continuously and noninvasively subcutaneously.

Recovering fluorophore concentration profiles from confocal images near lateral refractive index step changes.

Optical aberrations due to refractive index mismatches occur in various types of microscopy due to refractive differences between the sample and the immersion fluid or within the sample. We study the effects of lateral refractive index differences by fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy due to glass or polydimethylsiloxane cuboids and glass cylinders immersed in aqueous fluorescent solution, thereby mimicking realistic imaging situations in the proximity of these materials. The reduction in fluorescence intensity near the embedded objects was found to depend on the geometry and the refractive index difference between the object and the surrounding solution. The observed fluorescence intensity gradients do not reflect the fluorophore concentration in the solution. It is suggested to apply a Gaussian fit or smoothing to the observed fluorescence intensity gradient and use this as a basis to recover the fluorophore concentration in the proximity of the refractive index step change. The method requires that the reference and sample objects have the same geometry and refractive index. The best results were obtained when the sample objects were also used for reference since small differences such as uneven surfaces will result in a different extent of aberration.

Outlook on optimizing ultramicroscopy imaging technique through optical characterization.

Here, we present an optically optimized system for static ultramicroscopy imaging technique. The unit for generating an ultra-thin light sheet employs aspheric and meso-optical elements (meso-aspheric system). An analytical as well as an experimental comparison between the light sheet produced by the standard system (using a rectangular slit aperture and one cylindrical lens) and the one produced by our latest optimized system, which converts a symmetrical Gaussian beam into an ultra-thin light sheet is presented. Using the new light sheet in combination with our objective equipped with a modulator unit to compensate the refractive index mismatch between air and mediums with indices of 1.45-1.56, we present high resolution images of various biological samples that were chemically cleared using different methods. They demonstrate a marked improvement in quality, contrast and resolution.

Liquid index matching for 2D and 3D terahertz imaging.

Two-dimensional (2D) terahertz imaging and 3D visualization suffer from severe artifacts since an important part of the terahertz beam is reflected, diffracted, and refracted at each interface. These phenomena are due to refractive index mismatch and reflection in the case of non-orthogonal incidence. This paper proposes an experimental procedure that reduces these deleterious optical refraction effects for a cylinder and a prism made with polyethylene material. We inserted these samples in a low absorption liquid medium to match the sample index. We then replaced the surrounding air with a liquid with an optimized refractive index, with respect to the samples being studied. Using this approach we could more accurately recover the original sample shape by time-of-flight tomography.

Modeling of light propagation in the human neck for diagnoses of thyroid cancers by diffuse optical tomography.

Diffuse optical tomography using near-infrared light in a wavelength range from 700 to 1000nm has the potential to enable non-invasive diagnoses of thyroid cancers; some of which are difficult to detect by conventional methods such as ultrasound tomography. Diffuse optical tomography needs to be based on a physically accurate model of light propagation in the neck, because it reconstructs tomographic images of the optical properties in the human neck by inverse analysis. Our objective here was to investigate the effects of three factors on light propagation in the neck using the 2D time-dependent radiative transfer equation: (1) the presence of the trachea, (2) the refractive-index mismatch at the trachea-tissue interface, and (3) the effect of neck organs other than the trachea (spine, spinal cord, and blood vessels). There was a significant influence of reflection and refraction at the trachea-tissue interface on the light intensities in the region between the trachea and the front of the neck surface. Organs other than the trachea showed little effect on the light intensities measured at the front of the neck surface although these organs affected the light intensities locally. These results indicated the necessity of modeling the refractive-index mismatch at the trachea-tissue interface and the possibility of modeling other neck organs simply as a homogeneous medium when the source and detectors were far from large blood vessels.

Effects of refractive index mismatch on SRS and CARS microscopy.

An inhomogeneous linear refractive index profile, such as that occurring in biological tissues, is shown to significantly alter stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy images. Our finite-difference time-domain simulations show that near-field enhancement and microlensing can lead to an increase of an object's perceived molecular density by a factor of nine and changes in its perceived position by 0.4 μm up to 1.0 μm. Thus the assumption that SRS scales linearly and CARS quadratically with density does not always hold. Furthermore, the inhomogeneous linear index can cause false CARS and AM-SRS signals, even for a homogeneous nonlinear susceptibility.

Enhancing the sensitivity of mesoscopic light reflection statistics in weakly disordered media by interface reflections.

Reflection statistics have not been well studied for optical random media whose mean refractive indices do not match with the refractive indices of their surrounding media. Here, we theoretically study how this refractive index mismatch between a one-dimensional (1D) optical sample and its surrounding medium affects the reflection statistics in the weak disorder limit, when the fluctuation part of the refractive index (Δn) is much smaller than the mismatch as well as the mean refractive index of the sample (Δn ≪ 〈n〉). In the theoretical derivation, we perform a detailed calculation that results in the analytical forms of the mean and standard deviation (STD) of the reflection coefficient in terms of disorder parameters ( [Formula: see text] and its correlation length lc ) in an index mismatched backscattering system. Particularly, the orders of disorder parameters in STD of the reflection coefficient for index mismatched systems are shown to be lower (~(〈Δn2〉lc )1/2) than that of the matched systems (~〈Δn2〉lc ). By comparing STDs of the reflection coefficient values of index matched and mismatched systems, we show that reflection coefficient at the sample boundaries in index mismatched systems can enhance the signal of the STD to the "disorder parameters" of the reflection coefficient. In terms of biophotonics applications, this result can lead to potential techniques that effectively extract the sample disorder parameters by manipulating the index mismatched conditions. Potential applications of the technique for enhancement in sensitivity of cancer detection at the single cell level are also discussed.

Effect of various microlens parameters on enhancement of light outcoupling efficiency of organic light emitting diode

Since organic light emitting diode (OLED) is a multilayer device where each layer has different refractive index, total internal reflection (TIR) plays an important role in limiting the efficiency of an OLED. Due to the presence of TIR, a major portion of light is trapped within the device in various wave guiding modes. Of the total light trapped in an OLED, we address only the part that is lost due to wave guiding mode arising from refractive index mismatch at the glass-air interface. Microlens array, to improve luminance, is a method that can be externally applied to the OLEDs without altering its electrical characteristics and is easy to use. Microlens arrays ranging from 10 to 40 μm have been fabricated using an organic elastomeric material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by mold transfer technique. Maximum improvement of 25% in outcoupling efficiency for blue OLED is reported upon using the microlens array with diameter 10 μm. For a given diameter of microlens, out-coupling efficiency of OLED increases as height to diameter (H/D) ratio of microlens array approaches 0.5 (perfect hemisphere). It is also observed that outcoupling efficiency increases with the diameter of microlens for a given H/D ratio. The best luminescence improvement was observed for blue OLED, which can be explained by the higher refractive index of PDMS at lower wavelengths.

Reducing Splicing Loss Between a Silicon-Cored Optical Fiber and a Silica Optical Fiber

Splicing a silicon-cored fiber with a silica fiber usually suffers from splicing loss because of large refractive index mismatch. We applied a solution-based metal-assisted chemical etching method with silver catalyst to create anti-reflection structures on the end surface of a silicon-cored fiber, which reduced laser splicing loss to 1 dB when spliced with a silica fiber for working in 1550-nm wavelength. Experiment and stimulation indicated good integrity of the etched silicon structure in splicing with a silica fiber.

Liquid-crystal-droplet optical microcavities

ABSTRACTThe use of liquid-crystal droplets as optical microcavities and lasers is reviewed and possible applications are discussed. Liquid-crystal droplets are prepared by simple methods that enable scalable production since their internal structure is formed by self-assembly. Light is trapped in droplets due to total internal reflection on the surface due to refractive index mismatch or because of a photonic bandgap structure in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). Light confinement gives rise to a variety of optical modes and by employing a fluorescent dye end external optical pumping, lasing can be achieved. Liquid-crystal-droplet cavities are largely tunable by applying an electric field or a temperature change. Such cavities can be used as temperature and chemical sensors, and tunable light sources and filters in future integrated soft photonic circuits.

Precise determination of the refractive index of suspended particles: light transmission as a function of refractive index mismatch

Many fluids appear white because refractive index differences lead to multiple scattering. In this paper, we use safe, low-cost commercial index matching fluids to quantitatively study light transmission as a function of index mismatch, reduce multiple scattering to allow single scattering probes, and to precisely determine the index of refraction of suspended material. The transmission profile is compared with Rayleigh-Gans and Mie theory predictions. The procedure is accessible as a student laboratory project, while providing advantages over other standard methods of measuring the refractive index of an unknown nanoparticle, making it valuable to researchers.

Optical CT imaging of solid radiochromic dosimeters in mismatched refractive index solutions using a scanning laser and large area detector.

The practical use of the PRESAGE® solid plastic dosimeter is limited by the inconvenience of immersing it in high-viscosity oils to achieve refractive index matching for optical computed tomography (CT) scanning. The oils are slow to mix and difficult to clean from surfaces, and the dosimeter rotation can generate dynamic Schlieren inhomogeneity patterns in the reference liquid, limiting the rotational and overall scan speed. Therefore, it would be beneficial if lower-viscosity, water-based solutions with slightly unmatched refractive index could be used instead. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing mismatched conditions when using a scanning laser system with a large acceptance angle detector. A fiducial-based ray path measurement technique is combined with an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct images. A water based surrounding liquid with a low viscosity was selected for imaging PRESAGE® solid dosimeters. Liquid selection was optimized to achieve as high a refractive index as possible while avoiding rotation-induced Schlieren effects. This led to a refractive index mismatch of 6% between liquid and dosimeters. Optical CT scans were performed with a fan-beam scanning-laser optical CT system with a large area detector to capture most of the refracted rays. A fiducial marker placed on the wall of a cylindrical sample occludes a given light ray twice. With knowledge of the rotation angle and the radius of the cylindrical object, the actual internal path of each ray through the dosimeter can be calculated. Scans were performed with 1024 projections of 512 data samples each, and rays were rebinned to form 512 parallel-beam projections. Reconstructions were performed on a 512 × 512 grid using 100 iterations of the SIRT iterative CT algorithm. Proof of concept was demonstrated with a uniformly attenuating solution phantom. PRESAGE® dosimeters (11 cm diameter) were irradiated with Cobalt-60 irradiator to achieve either a uniform dose or a 2-level "step-dose" pattern. With 6% refractive index mismatching, a circular field of view of 85% of the diameter of a cylindrical sample can be reconstructed accurately. Reconstructed images of the test solution phantom were uniform (within 3%) inside this radius. However, the dose responses of the PRESAGE® samples were not spatially uniform, with variations of at least 5% in sensitivity. The variation appears as a "cupping" artifact with less sensitivity in the middle than at the periphery of the PRESAGE® cylinder. Polarization effects were also detected for these samples. The fiducial-based ray path measurement scheme, coupled with an iterative reconstruction algorithm, enabled optical CT scanning of PRESAGE® dosimeters immersed in mismatched refractive index solutions. However, improvements to PRESAGE® dose response uniformity are required.

Electrically and optically tunable Fresnel lens in a liquid crystal cell with a rewritable photoconductive layer

This work investigates an electrically and optically tunable Fresnel lens in a liquid crystal (LC) cell with an erasable and rewritable photoconductive layer. By using a Sagnac interferometer, a Fresnel-like pattern can be induced on the photoconductive polymer layer which results in conductive and nonconductive structures in bright and dark zones. This effect causes the mismatch of the LC refractive index between adjacent zones with external voltage, generating a LC Fresnel lens. The focal length of the proposed Fresnel lens can be easily tuned by varying the Fresnel pattern size, and the focusing efficiency can be optically and electrically controlled.

Depth profiles in confocal optical microscopy: a simulation approach based on the second Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral.

A method is presented for recovering the intensity depth profile, by confocal optical microscopy, in transparent and amorphous samples with low scattering. The response function of a confocal Raman microscope has been determined by using the second Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral and scalar wave optics within paraxial approximation, taking into account the refractive index mismatch between the sample and the medium surrounding the objective lens. An iterative multi-fitting-scheme, based on the conjugate gradient method and Brent algorithm, allowed to fit several depth profile curves simultaneously and retrieve the beam waist, the signal amplitude and the position of the sample surface. The reliability and accuracy of the theoretical procedure has been investigated through comparison with experimental measurements of the Raman depth profiles for different pinhole diameters. The model is shown to provide accurate description of the effect of the mismatch of the refractive index and of the dependence of the Raman signal on the depth with discrepancies lower than 3%. This procedure constitutes a first step towards the development of a manageable theoretical framework, amenable to a relatively simple numerical implementation, for the solution of the 'inverse' problem of finding the correct reconstruction of unknown profiles of chemical species within the sample, starting from experimental information gathered from micro-Raman depth profiling.

Tyndall Windows: Tunable Scattering of Disordered Solid–Liquid Matching Mixtures

We explain and explore sharp optical diffusion modulations of solid–liquid matching mixtures. The technique is based on sole refractive index modulation mismatch of optically matching materials at different states. This enables basic materials such as glass-based mixtures to obtain a sharp window of transparency at a desired condition. Our demonstration indicates over 3 orders of magnitude optical transmission modulation with 0.03 thermally induced modulation of the refractive index mismatch. The narrow full width at half maximum of this diffusion modulation is the result of Tyndall scattering of densely packed irregular particles that is not fully explainable by Mie theory. Such mixtures can be used as tunable phantoms and have applications in optofluidics, rheology, and cytometry.