Sub-wavelength Precision Research Articles

3D positional metrology of a virus-like nanoparticle with topologically structured light

Locating and identifying viruses in in vitro optical measurements is desirable for disease control; however, the sub-diffraction-limit dimensions and low refractive index contrast of viruses make this challenging. Here, we introduce a 3D positional nanometrology for a virus-like 100 nm polystyrene sphere that can reveal the position of the nanoparticle with deeply sub-wavelength accuracy using topologically structured light illumination and machine learning. Scattering of topologically structured light is highly sensitive to the position of a nano-object. Exploiting this, our experiments demonstrate deeply sub-wavelength (λ) precision reaching 5 nm (λ/91). Our findings indicate a route toward label-free in vitro nanometrology of viruses and similar nano-objects with precision far beyond the Abbe–Rayleigh diffraction limit.

Polarization-resolved near-field characterization of coupling between a bus waveguide and a ring resonator

Light propagation in Photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which can nowadays involve complex systems of light-guiding structures, is measured with different approaches(Nuzhdin et al., 2020, Lončar et al., 2002, Hopman et al., 2007, Morichetti et al., 2014, Sapienza et al., 2012, Vesseur et al., 2007). An interferometric polarization-sensitive measurement of the evanescent fields of these structures provides insight in the performance of the circuit detects possible malfunction with sub-wavelength precision(Engelen et al., 2007, Gersen et al., 2005, Barwick et al., 2009). We demonstrate a Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) measurement on coupled ring resonators that shows how the guided modes evolve as they propagate across the optical chip. Analysis of the measurements provides information about intensity distribution of the two polarization components (TE and TM) and their spatial confinement. The data validates our methodology and opens new possibilities for analysis of signal propagation in prototyping and optimization of integrated optical systems. Direct observation of polarization state of the guided modes allows for clear understanding of mode conversion in coupling systems.

Nanometer-precision surface metrology of millimeter-sized stepped objects using full-cascade-linked synthetic-wavelength digital holography using a line-by-line full-mode-extracted optical frequency comb.

Digital holography (DH) is a powerful tool for the surface profilometry of objects with sub-wavelength precision. In this article, we demonstrate full-cascade-linked synthetic-wavelength DH for nanometer-precision surface metrology of millimeter-sized stepped objects. 300 modes of optical frequency comb (OFC) with different wavelengths are sequentially extracted at a step of mode spacing from a 10GHz-spacing, 3.72THz-spanning electro-optic modulator OFC. The resulting 299 synthetic wavelengths and a single optical wavelength are used to generate a fine-step wide-range cascade link covering within a wavelength range of 1.54 µm to 29.7 mm. We determine the sub-millimeter and millimeter step differences with axial uncertainty of 6.1 nm within the maximum axial range of 14.85 mm.

Coupling Single Atoms to a Nanophotonic Whispering-Gallery-Mode Resonator via Optical Guiding.

We demonstrate an efficient optical guiding technique for coupling cold atoms in the near field of a planar nanophotonic circuit, and realize large atom-photon coupling to a whispering-gallery mode in a microring resonator with a single-atom cooperativity C≳8. The guiding potential is created by diffracted light on a nanophotonic waveguide that smoothly connects to a dipole trap in the far field for atom guiding with subwavelength precision. We observe atom-induced transparency for light coupled to a microring, characterize the atom-photon coupling rate, extract guided atom flux, and demonstrate on-chip photon routing by single atoms. Our demonstration promises new applications with cold atoms on a nanophotonic circuit for chiral quantum optics and quantum technologies.

Signal extraction method based on spectral processing for a dual-channel SMI vibration sensor

Laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) is a powerful measurement technique with high sensitivity and subwavelength precision. However, the simultaneous detection of multi-targets with adjacent frequencies for current SMI systems is an enormous challenge because their spectra are overlapped to be distinguished difficulty. Here, a novel method based on the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and pre-feedback structure is presented for dual-channel laser SMI, which realizes the recovery of two vibrations with adjacent frequencies. The spectrum of the SMI signal is expanded along the time-axis by STFT, in which the pre-feedback mirror is applied to reallocate the energy of each channel. Further, the signal is extracted separately through spectrum suppression and transformation. Simulation results show that the proposed approach is effective in vibration frequencies over a large range of ratio of 1:1- 1:5 in the weak feedback regime. The RMS errors of the experimental results with less than 11.29 nm (0.87%) indicate the reliability of this scheme, which provides an alternative solution for the simultaneous detection of multi-parameters.

Sub-wavelength acoustic stencil for tailored micropatterning.

Acoustofluidic devices are ideal for biomedical micromanipulation applications, with high biocompatibility and the ability to generate force gradients down to the scale of cells. However, complex and designed patterning at the microscale remains challenging. In this work we report an acoustofluidic approach to direct particles and cells within a structured surface in arbitrary configurations. Wells, trenches and cavities are embedded in this surface. Combined with a half-wavelength acoustic field, together these form an 'acoustic stencil' where arbitrary cell and particle arrangements can be reversibly generated. Here a bulk-wavemode lithium niobate resonator generates multiplexed parallel patterning via a multilayer resonant geometry, where cell-scale resolution is accomplished via structured sub-wavelength microfeatures. Uniquely, this permits simultaneous manipulation in a unidirectional, device-spanning single-node field across scalable ∼cm2 areas in a microfluidic device. This approach is demonstrated via patterning of 5, 10 and 15 μm particles and 293-F cells in a variety of arrangements, where these activities are enabling for a range of cell studies and tissue engineering applications via the generation of highly complex and designed acoustic patterns at the microscale.

Robust Signal Extraction Based on Time-Frequency Joint Analysis and GRNN for a Laser SMI System

In pursuit of vibration recovery, with subwavelength precision based on laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI), the estimation of two key parameters, i.e., the optical feedback parameter <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$C$</tex-math></inline-formula> and linewidth enhancement factor <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\alpha$</tex-math></inline-formula> , is of vital importance. However, the above process is not ideal in terms of accuracy and real-time performance. Aiming to overcome these deficiencies, a time-domain-based frequency-domain processing method (TFPM) has been proposed for the SMI system in this paper, which realizes robust and fast extraction of the vibration signals without the estimation of the parameters and does not require fringe detection. The method achieves the extraction of motion information via a mathematical transformation, namely, short-time Fourier transform (STFT), in which the limitations caused by STFT are alleviated by using generalized regression neural network (GRNN). In processing the SMI signal of the target with non-stationary motion, the TFPM finally achieves an expected root-mean-square (RMS) error of 0.24 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> , which demonstrates the high performance of the proposed method.

Ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy

The resolution of ultrasound imaging is limited by the classical wave diffraction theory and corresponds roughly to the ultrasonic wavelength (from 0.2 to 1 mm for clinical applications). Current methods for in vivo microvascular imaging are limited by trade-offs between the depth of penetration and resolution. Inspired by the optical localization techniques (FPALM), we developed the technique ultrafast ultrasound superlocalization (uULM) where the resolution is not limited by the wavelength (Couture et al. 2011, Desailly et al. 2013). The use of ultrafast ultrasound acquisitions, based on plane wave transmissions at the rate of thousand frames per second, enabled the separation of million microbubbles achieving a resolution of about 8 μm at 12 mm depth for the vascular structure of the rat brain in-vivo (Errico et al., 2015). Moreover, we have lately demonstrated that by combining acoustic vaporization of composite droplets and rapid ultrasound monitoring, ultrasound drug-delivery can also be attained with subwavelength precision (Hingot et al., 2016).

Repeat-Pass Synthetic Aperture Sonar Micronavigation Using Redundant Phase Center Arrays

In this paper, a new algorithm is introduced for high-precision underwater navigation using the coherent echo signals collected during repeat-pass synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) surveys. The algorithm is a generalization of redundant phase center (RPC) micronavigation, expanded to RPCs formed between overlapping pings in repeated passes. For each set of overlapping ping pairs (two intrapass and three interpass), five different RPC arrays can be formed to provide estimates of the vehicle’s surge, sway, and yaw. These estimates are used to find a weighted least squares solution for the trajectories of the repeated passes. The algorithm can estimate the relative trajectories to subwavelength precision (on order of millimeters to hundreds of micrometers at typical SAS operating frequencies of hundreds of kilohertz) in a common coordinate frame. This will lead to improved focusing and coregistration for repeat-pass SAS interferometry and is an important step toward repeat-pass bathymetric mapping. The repeat-pass RPC micronavigation algorithm is demonstrated using data collected by the 300-kHz SAS of the NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) Minehunting Unmanned underwater vehicle for Shallow water Covert Littoral Expeditions (MUSCLE).

Selective Plasmonic Enhancement of Electric- and Magnetic-Dipole Radiations of Er Ions.

Lanthanoid series are unique in atomic elements. One reason is because they have 4f electronic states forbidding electric-dipole (ED) transitions in vacuum and another reason is because they are very useful in current-day optical technologies such as lasers and fiber-based telecommunications. Trivalent Er ions are well-known as a key atomic element supporting 1.5 μm band optical technologies and also as complex photoluminescence (PL) band deeply mixing ED and magnetic-dipole (MD) transitions. Here we show large and selective enhancement of ED and MD radiations up to 83- and 26-fold for a reference bulk state, respectively, in experiments employing plasmonic nanocavity arrays. We achieved the marked PL enhancement by use of an optimal design for electromagnetic (EM) local density of states (LDOS) and by Er-ion doping in deep subwavelength precision. We moreover clarify the quantitative contribution of ED and MD radiations to the PL band, and the magnetic Purcell effect in the PL-decay temporal measurement. This study experimentally demonstrates a new scheme of EM-LDOS engineering in plasmon-enhanced photonics, which will be a key technique to develop loss-compensated and active plasmonic devices.

Three-Dimensional Superlocalization Imaging of Gliding Mycoplasma mobile by Extraordinary Light Transmission through Arrayed Nanoholes.

In this paper, we describe super-resolved sampling of live bacteria based on extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) of light. EOT is produced by surface plasmon confinement and coupling with nanostructures. Bacterial fluorescence is excited by the localized fields for subdiffraction-limited sampling. The concept was applied to elucidating bacterial dynamics of gliding Mycoplasma mobile (M. mobile). The results analyzed with multiple M. mobile bacteria show individual characters and reveal that M. mobile undergoes a significant axial variation at 94 nm. The sampling error of the method is estimated to be much smaller than 1/10 of the diffraction limit both in the lateral and depth axis. The method provides a powerful tool for investigation of biomolecular dynamics at subwavelength precision.

Speckle-insensitive fringe detection method based on Hilbert transform for self-mixing interferometry.

A robust phase measurement method to detect self-mixing signals from rough surface targets is addressed. Using the Hilbert transform to create the analytic signal of the monitored optical output power, an accurate instantaneous phase can be extracted without being affected by amplitude variations induced by the speckle phenomenon. In case of fringe fading, a running average filter removes the local bias offset improving the calculations. This also allows one to observe the phase at dynamic feedback levels within the same calculation, avoiding the need of adding external optical, mechanical or electronic components. This method provides confidence for the fringe detection required in subsequent steps to reach subwavelength precision of a reconstructed displacement or for velocimetry applications.

Application of diffraction tomography theory to determine size and shape of spheroidal particles from light scattering

Abstract Discerning the geometry of spheroidal scatterers of micron order is an important topic in identifying marine microbes. Optical diffraction tomography theory indicates that under the first-order Born approximation for weak scattering, scattering amplitude in the far zone and scattering potential of the scatterer have a Fourier relationship. In this paper, we describe a method based on diffraction tomography theory and determine the size and the shape of spheroidal scatterers by reconstructing the distribution of scattering potential from angular resolved scattered field. As a demonstration of this method, the scattering from spheroidal particles with equal-volume-sphere radii of 0.5429, 1.00, and 2.00 μm and an aspect ratio that varies from 0.4 to 1.5 was modeled by using T-matrix theory and used as test data. Simulation results show that in the case of low contrast, size and shape determination can be achieved with sub-wavelength precision.

Fabrication of large-area two-dimensional array of air holes with different hole shapes for optical and terahertz wavelength regions

Fabrication of metal-dielectric nanostructures with subwavelength precision is necessary for plasmon-mediated novel applications. Electron beam lithography (EBL) offers such precision, but for shapes other than circles, squares, and lines, process optimization is required. The EBL and dry etching processes are optimized for subwavelength precision in large area arrays of air groove patterns in gold film in two different length scales. We fabricated one structure for optical frequencies with an asymmetric, nonstandard element having a minimum feature size of about 50 nm and another for terahertz wavelength region with a large aspect ratio of about 975.

Frequency-comb-referenced multi-wavelength profilometry for largely stepped surfaces

3-D profiles of discontinuous surfaces patterned with high step structures are measured using four wavelengths generated by phase-locking to the frequency comb of an Er-doped fiber femtosecond laser stabilized to the Rb atomic clock. This frequency-comb-referenced method of multi-wavelength interferometry permits extending the phase non-ambiguity range by a factor of 64,500 while maintaining the sub-wavelength measurement precision of single-wavelength interferometry. Experimental results show a repeatability of 3.13 nm (one-sigma) in measuring step heights of 1800, 500, and 70 μm. The proposed method is accurate enough for the standard calibration of gauge blocks and also fast to be suited for the industrial inspection of microelectronics products.

Note: Tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy with objective scanner on opaque samples

We report on 14 nm lateral resolution in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy mapping of carbon nanotubes with an experimental setup that has been designed for the analysis of opaque samples in confocal side-access through a novel piezo-driven objective scanner. The objective scanner allows for fast and stable laser-to-tip alignment and for the adjustment of the focus position with sub-wavelength precision to optimize the excitation of surface plasmons. It also offers the additional benefit of imaging the near-field generated Raman scattering at the gap between tip and sample as direct control of the tip enhancement.

Fiber-optic interferometer for surface profile measurement with vibration suppression

We describe an improved design of fiber-optic interferometer intended to measure surface profiles with enhanced capability of vibration suppression. The reference wavefront is generated directly from the measurement wave using a multi-mode fiber that eliminates only the spatial wavefront distortion by means of bend loss. The temporal fluctuation caused by vibration is consequently cancelled out in the process of interference since it becomes to exist in both the measurement and reference waves. Further, an injection locking technique is incorporated to stabilize the reference wave intensity and hence make stable the interferometric fringe intensity. Experimental result proves that the proposed fiber-optic interferometer is capable of producing sub-wavelength measurement precision even in the presence of severe vibration with 100-μm amplitude.

Size and shape determination of spheroidal scatterers using two-dimensional angle resolved scattering

We demonstrate accurate determination of the size and shape of spherical and spheroidal scatterers through inverse analysis of two-dimensional solid-angle and depth resolved backscattered light intensities. Intensity of scattered light is measured over a wide range of solid angles using a novel scanning fiber optic interferometer from both individual and ensembles of scatterers. T-matrix based inverse analysis of these two-dimensional angular measurements yields completely unique size and aspect ratio determinations with subwavelength precision over a large range of possible scatterer geometries.

Spatiotemporal Visualization of THz Near-Fields in Metamaterial Arrays

We present an experimental approach to record the spatiotemporal electric field distribution of coherent broadband THz pulses propagating through planar metamaterial arrays. The electric field can be measured with sub-wavelength precision within a volume that is several wavelengths in size, thus, having the potential to map the near-field to far-field transition of the resonant structures constituting the metamaterial. To demonstrate the potential we present measurements of THz pulses propagating through a planar array of double split-ring resonators and their inverse analogues.

Fourier-domain angle-resolved low coherence interferometry through an endoscopic fiber bundle for light-scattering spectroscopy

We present a novel endoscopic fiber bundle probe incorporated in a Fourier-domain angle-resolved low coherence interferometry system for the measurement of depth-resolved angular scattering distributions to permit the determination of scatterer size via elastic scattering properties. Depth resolution is achieved with a superluminescent diode via a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The sample is illuminated with a collimated beam, and a Fourier plane image of the backscattered light is collected by a coherent fiber bundle. The angular scattering distribution relayed by the fiber bundle is mixed with the reference field and made to coincide with the input slit of an imaging spectrograph. The data collected are processed in real time, producing a depth-resolved angular scattering distribution in 0.37 s. The data are used to determine the sizes of polystyrene microspheres with subwavelength precision and accuracy.