A modified phase diversity wavefront sensor with a diffraction grating

The phase diversity wavefront sensor is one of the tools used to estimate wavefront aberration, and it is often used as a wavefront sensor in adaptive optics systems. However, the performance of the traditional phase diversity wavefront sensor is limited by the accuracy and dynamic ranges of the intensity distribution at the focus and defocus positions of the CCD camera. In this paper, a modified phase diversity wavefront sensor based on a diffraction grating is proposed to improve the ability to measure the wavefront aberration with larger amplitude and higher spatial frequency. The basic principle and the optics construction of the proposed method are also described in detail. The noise propagation property of the proposed method is also analysed by using the numerical simulation method, and comparison between the diffraction grating phase diversity wavefront sensor and the traditional phase diversity wavefront sensor is also made. The simulation results show that the diffraction grating phase diversity wavefront sensor can obviously improve the ability to measure the wavefront aberration, especially the wavefront aberration with larger amplitude and higher spatial frequency.

Detecting High-Refractive-Index Media Using Surface Plasmon Sensor with One-Dimensional Metal Diffraction Grating

We experimentally detect high-refractive-index media (n > 1.5) using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor with a diffraction grating. While SPR sensors are generally based on the attenuated total reflection method using metal films, here, we focus on a method using a diffraction grating, which can detect relatively higher refractive-index media and is suitable for device miniaturization. In this study, we used the rigorous coupled-wave analysis method to simulate the dependence of the reflectance on an incident angle for media with refractive index values up to 1.700. In the experiment, a medium (n = 1.660 - 1.700) was successfully detected using this grating. Under the conditions of the grating (period: 600 nm, Au thickness: 40 nm) using a red laser (λ: 635 nm), a sharp decline in the reflectance and a rise in the transmittance at certain angles were confirmed, demonstrating the extraordinary transmission enabled by SPR. Because excitation angles changed with changes in the refractive index, we concluded that this method can be applied to sensors that detect high-refractive-index media.

Linking Diffractive and Geometrical Optics Surface Scattering at a Fundamental Level

Optical surface scattering analyses based on diffractive optics (DO) are typically applied to one surface;however, there is a need for simulating surface scattering losses for devices having many surface interactions such as light pipes. Light pipes are often simulated with geometric optics (GO) using ray tracing, where surface scattering is driven by the surface slope distribution. In the DO case, surface scattering analyses depend on the spatial frequency distribution and amplitude as well as wavelength, with the sinusoidal grating as a fundamental basis. A better understanding of the link, or transition, between DO and GO scattering domains would be helpful for efficiently incorporating scattering loss analyses into ray trace simulations. A formula for the root-mean-square (rms) scattered angle width of a sinusoidal reflection grating that depends only on the surface rms slope is derived from the nonparaxial scalar diffraction theory, thereby linking it to GO. The scatter angle’s mean and rms width are evaluated over a range of grating amplitudes and periods using scalar theory and full vector simulations from the COMSOL® wave optic module for a sinusoidal reflection grating. The conditions under which the diffraction-based solution closely approximates the GO solution, as predicted by the rms slope, are identified. Close agreement is shown between the DO and GO solutions for the same surface rms slope scattering loss due to angular filtering near the critical angle of a total internal reflection (TIR) glass-to-air interface.

Optical diffraction gratings embedded in BK-7 glass by low-density plasma formation using femtosecond laser

The optical embedded diffraction gratings with the internal refractive index modification in BK-7 glass plates were demonstrated using low-density plasma formation excited by a high-intensity femtosecond （130 fs） Ti： sapphire laser （λp=790 rim）. The refractive index modifications with diameters ranging from 400 nm to 4 gm were photoinduced after plasma formation occurred upon irradiation with peak intensities of more than 1 ×10^13 W/cm2. The graded refractive index profile was fabricated to be a symmetric around the center of the point at which low-density plasma occurred. The maximum refractive index change （An） was estimated to be 1.5x10 2. Several optical embedded gratings in BK-7 glass plate were demonstrated with refractive index modification induced by the scanning of low-density plasma formation.

A novel single-order diffraction grating: Random position rectangle grating

Spectral diagnosis of radiation from laser plasma interaction and monochromation of radiation source are hot and important topics recently. Grating is one of the primary optical elements to do this job. Although easy to fabricate, traditional diffraction grating suffers from multi-order diffraction contamination. On the other hand, sinusoidal amplitude grating has the nonharmonic diffraction property, but it is too difficult to fabricate, especially for x-ray application. A novel nonharmonic diffraction grating named random position rectangle grating（RPRG） is proposed in this paper. Theoretical analysis and experiment results show that the RPRG is both higher order diffraction suppressing and not difficult to fabricate. Additionally, it is highly efficient; its first order absolute theoretical diffraction efficiency reaches 4.1%. Our result shows that RPRG is a novel tool for radiation diagnosis and monochromation.

LO-RAY-LIGH@ Diffraction Gratings in UV-VIS Spectroscopy

It has been more than half a century since the release of the first Shimadzu UV-VIS （UV-visible） spectrophotometer QB-50 in 1952, and during this time more than 160,000 UV-VIS spectrometers have been produced and installed in a wide variety of different applications. A lot of technical innovations have been implemented to improve the performance and significantly reduce the stray light levels. The latest innovation during development of sophisticated spectrophotometers is based on a new holographic exposure method and optimized etching process which has made it possible to produce both high-efficient and exceptionally low stray light gratings. These LO-RAY-LIGH~ gratings have guaranteed values of stray light at the intermediate position between zero-order and first-order lights. The values are measured by Shimadzu＇s laser stray-light-measuring system. The latest development in the series of UV-VIS spectrophotometers is the UV-2700 which is a true double beam double monochromator system in a compact design for high-precision spectral analysis of a wide range of samples including organic and inorganic compounds, biological samples, optical materials and photovoltaics. The high performance optical system is designed with ＂LO-RAY-LIGH＂ diffraction gratings, featuring highest efficiency and exceptionally low stray light. The spectrophotometer operates in the wavelength range from 185 nm to 900 nm and allows highly sophisticated applications such as direct measurement of high density samples up to 8 absorbance units without dilution.

Asymmetric dynamic phase holographic grating in nematic liquid crystal

A new scheme for recording a dynamic phase grating with an asymmetric profile in C60-doped homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal（NLC） was presented.An oblique incidence beam was used to record the thin asymmetric dynamic phase holographic grating.The diffraction efficiency we achieved is more than 40%,exceeding the theoretical limit for symmetric profile gratings.Both facts can be explained by assuming that a grating with an asymmetric saw-tooth profile is formed in the NLC.Finally,physical mechanism and mathematical model for characterizing the asymmetric phase holographic grating were presented,based on the photo-refractive-like（PR-like） effect.

Asymmetric two-dimensional diffraction grating via a vortex field in an inverted-Ytype atomic system

We propose a theoretical scheme to realize a two-dimensional(2D)diffraction grating in a four-level inverted-Y-type atomic system coupled by a standing-wave(SW)field and a Laguerre-Gaussian(LG)vortex field.Owing to asymmetric spatial modulation of the LG vortex field,the incident probe field can be lopsidedly diffracted into four domains and an asymmetric 2D electromagnetically induced grating is created.By adjusting the detunings of the probe field and the LG vortex field,the intensities of the LG vortex field and the coherent SW field,as well as the interaction length,the diffraction properties and efficiency,can be effectively manipulated.In addition,the effect of the azimuthal parameter on the Fraunhofer diffraction of the probe field is also discussed.This asymmetric 2D diffraction grating scheme may provide a versatile platform for designing quantum devices that require asymmetric light transmission.

Experimental implementation of phase triplicator gratings in a spatial light modulator

In this work,we compare different methods for implementing a triplicator,a phase grating that generates three equiintense diffraction orders.The design with optimal efficiency features a continuous phase profile,which cannot be easily reproduced,and is typically affected by quantization.We compare its performance with binary and sinusoidal phase profiles.We also analyze the effect of quantizing the phase levels.Finally,a random approach is adopted to eliminate the additional harmonic orders.In all cases,a liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulator is employed to experimentally verify and compare the different approaches.

Novel Even Beam Splitters Based on Subwavelength Binary Simple Periodic Rectangular Structure

In this paper, a novel method of a subwavelength binary simple periodic rectangular structure is presented to realize even beam splitting by combining the rigorous couple-wave analysis with the genetic algorithm. Several even splitters in the terahertz region were designed and one of the silicon-based beam splitters designed to separate one incident beam into four emergent beams has total efficiency up to 92.23 %. Zero-order diffraction efficiency was reduced to less than 0.192 % and the error of uniformity decreased to 6.51 9 10-6. These results break the limitation of even beam splitting based on the traditional scalar theory. In addition, the effects of the incident angle, wavelength, as well as the polarizing angle on the diffraction efficiency and uniformity were also investigated.

MEASUREMENT OF 2-DIMENSIONAL DISPLACEMENT USING 2-D ZERO-REFERENCE MARKS

Several 2-D displacement sensing methods are reviewed. As to the crossdiffraction grating, there is no absolute zero-reference. In regards to the optical fiber method,the output signal is affected greatly by the quality of the reflecting surface and it is hard to gethigh resolution. Considering the concentric-circle gratings, the displacement can only be gainedwith complicated calculating of the experiment data. Compared with the advantages and limitations ofthe methods above, a novel 2-D zero-reference mark is especially proposed and demonstrated. Thiskind of mark has an absolute zero-reference when used in pair, and the experimental result is simpleto dispose. By superimposing a pair of specially coded 2-D marks, the correct alignment position ofthe two marks can be detected by the maximum output of the sharp intensity peak. And each slope ofthe peak is of good linearity which can be used to achieve high resolution in positioning andalignment in two dimensions. Design and fabrication of such 2-D zero-reference marks are introducedin detail. The experiment results are agreed with the theoretical ones.

Diffractive self-imaging based on selective etching of a ferroelectric domain inversion grating

A hexagonal array grating based on selective etching of a 2D ferroelectric domain inversion in a periodically poled Mg O-doped Li Nb O3 crystal is fabricated. The effects to the diffractive self-imaging as a function of diffraction distance for a fixed phase difference and array duty cycle of the grating is theoretically analyzed.The Talbot diffractive self-imaging properties after selective etching of a 2D ferroelectric domain inversion grating under a fixed phase difference are experimentally demonstrated. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is observed.

Sensitivity Analysis of a Bioinspired Refractive Index Based Gas Sensor

It was found out that the change of refractive index of ambient gas can lead to obvious change of the color of Morpho butterfly＇s wing. Such phenomenon has been employed as a sensing principle for detecting gas. In the present study, Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis （RCWA） was described briefly, and the partial derivative of optical reflection efficiency with respect to the refractive index of ambient gas, i.e., sensitivity of the sensor, was derived based on RCWA. A bioinspired grating model was constructed by mimicking the nanostructure on the ground scale of Morpho didius butterfly＇s wing. The analytical sensitivity was verified and the effect of the grating shape on the reflection spectra and its sensitivity were discussed. The results show that by tuning shape parameters of the grating, we can obtain desired reflection spectra and sensitivity, which can be applied to the design of the bioinspired refractive index based gas sensor.

Single order soft X-ray diffraction with quasi-random radius pinhole array spectroscopic photon sieves

A novel single order diffraction grating in the soft X-ray region, called quasi-random radius pinhole array spectro- scopic photon sieves （QRSPS）, is proposed in this paper. This new grating is composed of pinholes on a substrate, whose radii are quasi-random, while their centers are regular. Analysis proves that its transmittance function across the grating bar is similar to that of sinusoidal transmission gratings. Simulation results show that the QRSPS can suppress higher-order diffraction effectively. And the QRSPS would still retain its characteristic of single order diffraction when we take the effect of X-ray penetration into account. These properties indicate that the QRSPS can be used in the soft X-ray spectra measurement.

High-efficiency asymmetric diffraction based on PT-antisymmetry in quantum dot molecules

We present preparation of asymmetric grating with higher diffraction efficiency in quantum dot molecules by combining the tunneling effect and parity-time antisymmetry.In the presence of tunneling between two quantum dots,the system exhibits the striking PT antisymmetry via spatially modulating the driving field and the detuning with respect to the driven transition.For this reason,the asymmetric grating could be achieved.The results show that the diffraction efficiency can be adjustable via changing the driving intensity,detuning,tunneling strength,and interaction length,and then the high-order diffraction can be reached.The scheme provides a feasible way to obtain the direction-controlled diffraction grating,which can be helpful for optical information processing and realization of controllable optical self-image.

Single-order soft x-ray spectra with spectroscopic photon sieve

A single-order diffraction transmission grating named spectroscopic photon sieve(SPS)for soft x-ray region is proposed and demonstrated in this paper.The SPS consists of many circular pinholes located randomly,and can realize both free-standing diffractions and the suppression of higher-order differations.In this paper,the basic concept,numerical simulations,and calibration results of a 1000-lines/mm SPS for soft x-ray synchrotron radiation are presented.As predicted by theoretical calculations,the calibration results of a 1000-lines/mm SPS verify that the higher-order diffractions can be significantly suppressed along the symmetry axis.With the current nanofabrication technique,the SPS can potentially have a higher line density,and can be widely used in synchrotron radiation,laser-induced plasma diagnostics,and astrophysics.

Controls of pass-bands in asymmetric acoustic transmission

The controls of the pass-bands in an asymmetric acoustic transmission system are investigated numerically and ex- perimentally, and the system consists of a periodical rectangular grating and two uniform brass plates in water. We reveal that the pass-band of the asymmetric acoustic transmission is closely related to the grating period, but is affected slightly by the brass plate thickness. Moreover, the transmittance can be improved by adjusting the grating period and other structural parameters simultaneously. The control method of the system has the advantages of wider frequency range and simple operation, which has great potential applications in ultrasonic devices.

OPTICAL STORAGE MECHANISM AND HIGH-ORDER DIFFRACTION PROPERTIES OF NITROAZOBENZENE-CONTAINING POLYESTER FILMS

Using Nd:YAG second harmonic pulse (100 ps), the optical storage properties of two novel polyesters, poly [4'-bis (N, N-oxyethylene) imino-4-nitroazobenzene succinyl] and poly [2'-chloro-4'-bis (N, N-oxyethylene) imino-4-nitroazobenzene succinyl] have been studied by multiwave mixing. The high-order diffractions of the orientation gratings induced by anisotropy via the reorientation of nitroazobenzene groups and optical information storage with long-term stability have been realized by multiwave mixing in their films. Up to 3rd order forward diffraction was detected in two wave mixing, while up to 4th order backward diffraction was observed in degenerated four wave mixing. The recording mechanism was explained by the trans-cis-trans isomerization cycles of azobenzene groups. The isomerization of these azobenzene groups probably undergoes with inversion mechanism under the experimental conditions. The information recorded in these films has been kept for more than 6 months.

Development of High-precision Rotary Encoder Using Semiconductor Laser

In this paper, the operation principle of laser rotary encoders is expounded and the optical quadruple frequency technology used in laser rotary encoders is explained, and the design idea of optical system in φ66 mm laser rotary encoder is mainly introduced, as well as the choice of principal devices.

Higher order harmonics suppression in extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray

The extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray sources are widely used in various domains. Suppressing higher order harmonics and improving spectral purity are significant. This paper describes a novel method of higher order harmonics suppression with single order diffraction gratings in extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray. The principle of harmonic suppression with single order diffraction grating is described, and an extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray non-harmonics grating monochromator is designed based on the single order diffraction grating. The performance is simulated by an optical design software. The emergent beams of a monochromator with different gratings are measured by a transmission grating spectrometer. The results show that the single order diffraction grating can suppress higher order harmonics effectively, and it is expected to be widely used in synchrotron radiation, diagnostics of laser induced plasma, and astrophysics.