Short-focus Lens Research Articles

Terahertz time-domain spectro-imaging and hyperspectral imagery to investigate a historical Longwy glazed ceramic

In this paper, we present the potential of Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) as a tool to perform non-invasive 3D analysis of an ancient enamel plate manufactured by Longwy Company in France. The THz data collected in the reflection mode were processed using noise filtering procedures and an advanced imaging approach. The results validate the capability to identify glaze layers and the thickness of ceramic materials. To characterize the nature of the pigments, we also use with X-ray images, visible near-infrared hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, and p-XRF (portable X-ray fluorescence) to qualitatively and quantitively identify the materials used. The obtained information enables a better understanding of the decoration chromogens nature and, thus, to determine the color palette of the artists who produced such decorative object. We also establish the efficiency of a focus, Z-tracker, which enables to perform THz imaging on non-flat samples and to attenuate artifacts obtained with a short focus lens. Then, 3D images are extracted and generated, providing a real vision. We also report the evaluation of the internal damage state through the detection of fractures.

Enhanced detection stability in femtosecond time resolution transient absorption system from a tight-focusing filamentation

Femtosecond time resolution transient absorption spectroscopy (FTRTAS) is a powerful tool to obtain ultrafast photoexcitation dynamics of matter. The rapid development of photosensitive materials such as bioprotein and advanced photoelectric nanocrystal put forward higher stability requirements for the technique of FTRTAS. In this paper, we propose a strategy to establish a tight-focusing stable femtosecond laser filamentation system to optimize the stability of probe pulses, and finally achieve highly sensitive detection of weak signals. It is found that intense geometric focusing with short-focus lens can effectively reduce the self-focusing effect and plasma defocusing effect in the process of filamentation, avoid multiple filamentation, and promote a stable and tight femtosecond laser filamentation in the crystal. The results indicate that the supercontinuum white light (WL) pulse generated from 50 mm lens tight-focusing filamentation displays a comprehensive high detection ability with an enhanced stability and appropriate power and width, which improves the performance of the FTRTAS system and increases the detection sensitivity from conventional mode of 0.75 mOD to 0.3 mOD. The optimized FTRTAS system shows a great performance in detecting weak signals and tracking carrier evolution of perovskite and carotenoid after photoexcitation. These results demonstrate that the optimization of the femtosecond laser filamentation system can effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and provide a valuable strategy for optimizing the FTRTAS system.

Characteristics of laser-induced steel plasmas generated with different focusing conditions.

Laser focusing is an important parameter that affects the characteristics of laser-induced plasma. Focusing lenses with different F-numbers form different energy density distributions near the surface of a sample, thus affecting the characteristics of plasma. In this study, the plasma generated by a nanosecond laser ablation of a micro-alloy steel certified sample at 1atm of air was investigated. We compare the spectrally integrated plasma images obtained at different defocusing distances for short- and long-focus lenses and investigate the optical emission spectra of laser-induced plasma on steel alloy by using focusing lenses with different F-numbers. With an increase in the defocusing distance, the plasma plume changes from flat to hemispherical and then splitting occurs. The spectral line intensity increases first and then decreases, then increases slightly, and finally decreases gradually. For the long-focus lens, when the focal point is above the sample surface, the laser beam strongly interacts with air over a longer distance, leading to longer air plasma and weaker sample plasma compared with the short-focus lens. Thus, the relative intensity of the second peak in the spectral line intensity, according to the defocusing distance, gradually decreases with increasing F-number. We also obtain two-dimensional spatial distributions of the spectral line intensity according to the F-number and defocusing distance. The optimal defocusing distances for all focusing lenses occur when the focal point is below the sample surface. The relation between the optimal defocusing distance and F-number follows a single- exponential decay function.

Direct emission spectrometry determination of fluorine in carbon materials: Argon dc arc and spark radiation sources

In this work, the procedure for direct atomic emission spectrometry (AES) determination of fluorine impurities in carbon materials was proposed. Two types of simple radiation sources with direct solid (powdered) sample introduction were studied: direct current arc (25A) and high-power low voltage spark (300 V, of 2348 μF). For each source, standard graphite extra high purity electrodes and argon discharge atmosphere were used. Red spectral region approach to non-metal AES determination was employed with analytical line F I 685.603 nm. The spectra were registered by compact tunable fiber-optic spectrometer with linear complementary metal oxide semiconductor array (CMOS) sensor and short-focus lens. Special measures were taken to counter red spectral region interferences, such as CN molecular bands and thermal radiation. The excitation of F in both types of radiation source was studied. A set of artificial graphite and NaF based standards was prepared for calibration and evaluated by two independent approaches: indirect dc arc AES and water extraction photometry. Limit of detection was determined for dc arc source was 5 μg/g, and for spark 20 μg/g of F. The whole cycle of measurement with each type of radiation source takes 10 min. As the power of dc arc is limited by generator capabilities, it is possible that even lower limit of detection is achievable with higher discharge current.

Formation of the spatial structure of pump radiation in the focal plane of a lens for different types of stimulated light scattering

Experiments of our earlier work on the study of stimulated thermal scattering of the second harmonic of neodymium laser radiation in toluene are reproduced in order to confirm the put forward hypothesis about the nature of the laser beam structure decay in the focal plane of a short-focus lens. Experiments were carried out under similar conditions, but with a liquid (CCl4), in which there is no two-photon absorption of the second harmonic radiation from a neodymium laser. A conclusion is made that the spatial structure decay of the laser beam of the second harmonic of the Nd : YAG laser radiation focused by short-focus lenses with a numerical aperture NA ∼ 0.1 in toluene is associated with two-photon absorption.

On-line process decisions using convolutional neural network for centering high-precision short-focus lens

This study integrated the use of a centering machine with an automatic optical axis measuring technique to improve the centering process for short-focus lenses, which are widely used in interferometric inspection, microscopy, and spectrometry. A major concern of the centering process is coma aberrations during the axis centering of a lens, which leads to deformation of the image system. Because of the small size and high curvature of short-focus lenses, high optical axis error and unstable grinding quality are highly problematic within the high-precision centering process. To reduce optical axis error and improve manufacturing quality, an on-line optical axis measuring system that applies convolutional neural network (CNN) machine learning for the evaluation of centering stability was developed. According to experimental results, the CNN achieved 95% accuracy. With the use of trace classification and optical axis measurements, the optical axis error was controlled to <150 μrad, the range of cracks to <E0.1, and the circularity error to <0.1 mm.

Optical Inspection Systems for Axisymmetric Parts with Spatial 2D Resolution

The article proposes a solution to the problem of increasing the accuracy of determining the main shaping dimensions of axisymmetric parts through a control system that implements the optical method of spatial resolution. The influence of the projection error of a passive optical system for controlling the geometric parameters of bodies of revolution from the image of its sections, obtained by a digital camera with non-telecentric optics, on the measurement accuracy is shown. Analytical dependencies are derived that describe the features of the transmission of measuring information of a system with non-telecentric optics in order to estimate the projection error. On the basis of the obtained dependences, a method for compensating the projection error of the systems for controlling the geometry of the main shaping surfaces of bodies of revolution has been developed, which makes it possible to increase the accuracy of determining dimensions when using digital cameras with a resolution of 5 megapixels or more, equipped with short-focus lenses. The possibility of implementing the proposed technique is confirmed by the results of experimental studies.

Design of a Free Space Optical Communication System for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command and Control Link

An electromagnetic immune Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) system for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) command and control link is introduced in this paper. The system uses the scheme of omnidirectional receiving and ground scanning transmitting. It has a strong anti-turbulence ability by using a large area detector and short-focus lens. The design of omnidirectional communication improves the ability of anti-vibration and link establishment. Pure static reception has no momentum effect on the platform. The receiver is miniaturized under no use of a gimbal mirror system, beacon camera system, Four-Quadrant Photodetector (QPD) and multi-level lens system. The system can realize omnidirectional reception and the communication probability in 1 s is greater than 99.99%. This design strengthens the ability of the FSOC system, so it can be applied in the UAV command and control, the satellite submarine communication and other occasions where the size of the platform is restricted.

SWIR AOTF Imaging Spectrometer Based on Single-pixel Imaging.

An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is a new type of mono-wavelength generator, and an AOTF imaging spectrometer can obtain spectral images of interest. However, due to the limitation of AOTF aperture and acceptance angle, the light passing through the AOTF imaging spectrometer is weak, especially in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region. In weak light conditions, the noise of a non-deep cooling mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector is high compared to the camera response. Thus, effective spectral images cannot be obtained. In this study, the single-pixel imaging (SPI) technique was applied to the AOTF imaging spectrometer, which can obtain spectral images due to the short-focus lens that collects light into a small area. In our experiment, we proved that the irradiance of a short-focus system is much higher than that of a long-focus system in relation to the AOTF imaging spectrometer. Then, an SPI experimental setup was built to obtain spectral images in which traditional systems cannot obtain. This work provides an efficient way to detect spectral images from 1000 to 2200 nm.

Laboratory reflectometer for the investigation of optical elements in a wavelength range of 5–50 nm: description and testing results

We describe a laboratory reflectometer developed at the IPM RAS for precision measurements of spectral and angular dependences of the reflection and transmission coefficients of optical elements in a wavelength range of 5–50 nm. The radiation is monochromatised using a high-resolution Czerny–Turner spectrometer with a plane diffraction grating and two spherical collimating mirrors. A toroidal mirror focuses the probe monochromatic beam on a sample. The X-ray source is a highly ionised plasma produced in the interaction of a high-power laser beam with a solid target at an intensity of 1011–1012 W cm–2. To stabilise the emission characteristics, the target executes translatory and rotary motions in such a way that every pulse irradiates a new spot. The short-focus lens is protected from contamination by erosion products with the use of a specially designed electromagnetic system. The samples under study are mounted on a goniometer is accommodated in a dedicated chamber, which provides five degrees of freedom for samples up to 500 mm in diameter and two degrees of freedom for a detector. The sample mass may range up to 10 kg. The X-ray radiation is recorded with a detector composed of a CsI photocathode and two microchannel plates. A similar detector monitors the probe beam intensity. The spectral reflectometer resolution is equal to 0.030 nm with the use of ruled gratings with a density of 900 lines mm–1 (spectral range: 5–20 nm) and to 0.067 nm for holographic gratings with a density of 400 lines mm–1 (spectral range: 10–50 nm). We analyse the contribution of higher diffraction orders to the probe signal intensity and the ways of taking it into account in the measurements. Examples are given which serve to illustrate the reflectometer application to the study of multilayer mirrors and filters.

Analysis on the Characteristics of Camera Lens Distortion

Objectives: Recent high zoom lens as CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera is released with the resolution to be able to easily acquire the digital image that has been variously utilized, from day-to-day utilization to take advantage of specialized domain such as computer vision (computer vision). It has a number of advantages for obtaining a normal zoom lens CCD camera video which is now commercially available, however the camera calibration in the actual image process geometrically have been the considerable difficulties due to the unstable capture and the movement of the pick-up process in a variety of zoom lens camera. Methods: The camera parameters for the zoom lens calibration will be test variables calculated over a camera lens, a variety of focal lengths whenever the zoom occur, especially if you already have zoom movement at the point the lens test is complete, recalculation of the camera calibration parameters cause the difficulties. In this research the zoom lens to correct the distortion of image obtaining the camera calibration, and a method that extracts the camera parameters through the DLT (Direct Linear Transformation) test method is proposed. Findings: DLT accuracy of the camera is black was carried out in the following two aspects. The first was to analyze the three dimensional position differences between the estimated position and the actual three-dimensional observation that is calculated by the model formula to moderate, and the second is that pixel position that is pixels accuracy projected onto the image plane in the three-dimensional space of the object the accuracy was evaluated in an absolute manner. In this study, under the assumption that the aperture condition is fixed zoom, the zoom was determined the relationship between the camera and variable focus for the condition setting. A zoom lens camera model by setting the zoom and focus conditions at regular intervals as short-focus lens model was established by the DLT method and each camera parameter is tested individually. Applications: In future research the image correction software will be develop for the 3-dimensional location information based on three-dimensional information generating process based on camera calibration method by the DLT method.

On the formation of X-ray microbeams utilizing a short-focus refractive lens and a laboratory radiation source

The possibility of focusing an X-ray beam from a laboratory radiation source using a short-focus refractive composite lens is shown. The lens consists of 161 spherical biconcave epoxy lenses, each with a curvature radius of 50 μm. A Metal Jet (ExcilliumTM) microfocus X-ray tube, with a focal-spot size of 20 μm and containing a liquid helium anode, is used as a radiation source. The size of the focal spot in the image plane is 2.4 μm, which corresponds to the theoretical estimate. The possibility of using the composite refractive lens to form a parallel polychromatic X-ray beam is demonstrated. The results obtained allow discussion of the possibility of applying short-focus refractive X-ray lenses for X-ray microanalysis using laboratory sources; such microanalysis is currently a prerogative of synchrotron radiation sources only.

Design of universal short-focus projection lens

Design of universal short-focus projection lens

Rice panicle length measuring system based on dual-camera imaging

The length of the rice panicle determines the number of grains it can hold, and consequently rice yield; it is therefore one of the most important traits assessed in yield-related research. However, the conventional method of measuring panicle length is still a manual process that is inconsistent, subjective and slow. In this study, a novel prototype, dubbed “Smart-PL”, was developed for the automatic measurement of rice panicle length based on dual-camera imaging. Cameras with a long-focus lens and a short-focus lens were utilized to capture both a detailed image and a complete image of the rice panicle, respectively. Specific image processing algorithms were exploited, to analyze the neck image for neck identification and the whole-panicle image for path extraction. Subsequently, co-registration was used to identify the neck location in the whole-panicle image, and a resampling method was used to search for the path points between the panicle neck and the tip. Finally, the panicle length was calculated as the sum of the distances between each adjacent path point. To evaluate the accuracy of this prototype, six batches of rice panicles were tested. The results showed that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the system was about 1.23%, and the automatic measurements had a good agreement with manual measurements, regardless of panicle type. To evaluate the efficiency of this prototype, 3108 panicle samples were tested under continuous-measurement conditions, and the measuring efficiency was approximately 900 panicles per hour, 6 times over manual method. In conclusion, the system automatically extracts panicle length while providing three advantages over the manual method: objectiveness, high efficiency and high consistency.

Study of the structure and parameters of a KrF excimer laser beam

For a KrF excimer laser with a confocal unstable resonator, energy distribution over the beam cross-section was measured with the aid of luminescence in the glass induced by the UV laser radiation. A complex fine structure of the beam has been found. In an area close to the focus, measurements were carried out by means of two different methods—via thermal paper blackening and via ablation craters on a glass surface. The complex beam structure above has been shown to persist also in the immediate vicinity of the beam waist. Measured cross-sectional waist dimensions varied significantly within a range from 0.3 to 0.6–1.3 mrad depending on the measuring procedure applied. Using a short-focus nonaberrational lens one could obtain a focal spot with linear dimensions of several tens of micrometers.

Q-type非球面技术在超短焦全景镜头设计中的应用

The Q-type novel aspherical polynomials and its advantages are introduced in the aspect of algorithm,fabrication and manufacturing relative to the traditional aspherical polynomial-based aspheres.The Q-type formulation is applied to design a panoramic lens based on the relationship of super short-focus panoramic lens′ focus and resolution.The designed panoramic lens′ focus is 0.657 mm and ratio of focus and image height is less than 0.184,which includes 4 aspheric surface.This result shows that the spatial pixel of scenic circle area with half vertical field 45°～90° is up to 1.163 7 mm/(°),and the modulation transformation function is greater than 0.3 at the spatial frequency of 227 lp/mm.The result demonstrates the Q-type formulations is certain advantages in super short-focus panoramic lens.

Generation of radially and azimuthally polarized beams in Yb:YAG laser with intra-cavity lens and birefringent crystal

We demonstrated the operation of cw diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser in radial or azimuthal polarized (RP or AP) beams using a combination of birefringent uniaxial crystal (c-cut YVO4 or α-BBO) and lens as intra-cavity elements. RP and AP doughnut modes (M2 = 2-2.5, polarization extinction ratio 50-100:1) with output power up to 60 mW were generated. Apart from doughnut modes, RP or AP ring-like off-axis oscillations and multi-ring beams with mixed RP and AP were also observed at the output of this laser scheme. Using intra-cavity short focus lenses with spherical aberrations AP or RP modes of higher orders was obtained. Mechanism of mode selection in the laser is discussed. The large variety of beams with axially symmetric polarizations from the output of the proposed laser scheme may find applications in different fields.

Multi-ring modes generation in Yb:YAG ceramic laser

A short-focus glass lens with strong spherical aberration was used for mode selection in the cw LD-end-pumped Yb:YAG ceramic laser. Sequence of low to very high order Laguerre–Gaussian (LG pl) modes with different combinations of radial, p and azimuthal, l indices ( p ⩽ 10, l ⩽ 28), with output beam diameters 2–13 mm and power up to 30 mW was obtained. Peaked and hollow multi-ring beams with near-diffraction free propagation of the central minimum or maximum over 40 m distance from the laser resonator were observed. Mechanisms of mode selection and possible applications of the proposed laser scheme are considered.

Circular modes selection in Yb:YAG laser using an intracavity lens with spherical aberration

The possibility of use of ordinary short-focus lenses with strong spherical aberration for mode selection in a laser resonator is demonstrated. Plano-convex spherical lenses with foci from 2.5 to 10.0 cm placed inside the resonator of the CW laser diode pumped Yb:YAG laser were used to select circular modes of Laguerre-Gauss and Bessel-Gauss type, or to get ring-like, multi-mode off-axis oscillations with variable inner and outer diameters of rings. At the constant pump power mode selection was obtained by shifting an intracavity lens along the resonator axis relative to the Yb:YAG ceramics active element of 1.1 mm thickness. Peaked and hollow multi-ring beams with output power up to 30 mW were produced. Near diffraction free (ndf) propagation of the central part (minimum or maximum) of these beams was observed along distances over 10 m from the resonator output coupler. The mechanisms of mode selection due to spherical aberration in the resonator and ndf propagation of output beams are considered. The possibility of producing radially polarized beams from the laser with an intracavity lens and possible applications of the devised laser scheme are discussed.

Multiband negative refraction in one-dimensional photonic crystals

We simulate a lossless one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPC) structure and show that negative refraction could be present near the low frequency edge of at least the second, fourth and sixth bandgaps. We experimentally demonstrate for the first time negative refraction in strongly modulated porous silicon 1D-PC in the visible and near infrared regions. This 1D-PC structure may allow the realization of short-focus Veselago lenses in different optical bands. An advantage of our structure is its simplicity allowing for cheap and rapid fabrication of samples.