We present an electron interferometer based on near-field diffraction from two nanostructure gratings. Lau fringes are observed with an imaging detector, and revivals in the fringe visibility occur as the separation between gratings is increased from 0 to 3 mm. This verifies that electron beams diffracted by nanostructures remain coherent after propagating farther than the Talbot length $z_T = 2d^2/λ$ = 1.2 mm, and hence is a proof of principle for the function of a Talbot-Lau interferometer for electrons. Distorted fringes due to a phase object demonstrates an application for this new type of electron interferometer.
We present a technique for the single-shot measurement of the space- and time-resolved spatiotemporal amplitude and phase of an ultrashort laser pulse. The method, transient-grating single-shot supercontinuum spectral interferometry (TG- SSSI), is demonstrated by the space-time imaging of short pulses carrying spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOVs). TG-SSSI is well-suited for characterizing ultrashort laser pulses that contain singularities associated with spin/orbital angular momentum or polarization.
The self-referenced spectral interferometry (SRSI) technique, which is usually used for microjoule-level femtosecond pulses characterization, is improved to characterize weak femtosecond pulses with nanojoule based on the transient-grating effect. Both femtosecond pulses from an amplifier with 3 nJ per pulse at 1 kHz repetition rates and femtosecond pulses from an oscillator with less than 0.5 nJ per pulse at 84 MHz repetition rates are successfully characterized. Furthermore, through a special design, the optical setup of the device is even smaller than a palm which will makes it simple and c…
We introduce a method for using Fizeau interferometry to measure the intrinsic resolving power of a diffraction grating. This method is more accurate than traditional techniques based on a long-trace profiler (LTP), since it is sensitive to long-distance phase errors not revealed by a d-spacing map. We demonstrate 50,400 resolving power for a mechanically ruled XUV grating from Inprentus, Inc.
One of the key tasks in grating based x-ray phase contrast imaging is to accurately retrieve local phase gradients of a sample from measured intensity fringe shifts. To fulfill this task in dual phase grating interferometry, one needs to know the exact mathematical relationship between the two. In this work, using intuitive analysis of the sample-generated fringe shifts based on the beat pattern formation mechanism, the authors derived the formulas relating sample's phase gradients to fringe phase shifts. These formulas provide also a design optimization tool for dual phase grating interferome…
Moiré Artifact Reduction in Grating Interferometry Using Multiple Harmonics and Total Variation Regularization
Louisiana State University（路易斯安那州立大学）；East Carolina University（东卡罗来纳大学）；University of California, Santa Barbara（加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校）；Pennington Biomedical Research Center（彭宁顿生物医学研究中心）；Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices, Louisiana State University（路易斯安那州立大学先进微结构器件中心）；Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine（路易斯安那州立大学兽医学院）
Quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry (QLSI) is a quantitative phase imaging technique based on the use of a diffraction grating placed in front of a camera. This grating creates a wire-mesh-like image, called an interferogram, that is postprocessed to retrieve both the intensity and phase profiles of an incoming light beam. Invented in the 90s, QLSI has been used in numerous applications, e.g., laser beam characterization, lens metrology, topography measurements, adaptive optics, or gas jet metrology. More recently, the technique has been implemented on optical microscopes to characteriz…
We propose a novel technique for the magnetoplasmonic nanostructures fabrication based on the pulse force nanolithography method. It allows one to create the high-quality magnetoplasmonic nanostructures that have lower total losses than the gratings made by the electron beam lithography. The method provides control of the SPP excitation efficiency by varying the grating parameters such as the scratching depth or the number of the scratches in a single period. The quality of the plasmonic gratings was estimated by means of the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect that is extremely sensitive t…
Extending the range of quantum interferometry to a wider class of composite nanoparticles requires new tools to diffract matter waves. Recently, pulsed photoionization light gratings have demonstrated their suitability for high mass matter-wave physics. Here we extend quantum interference experiments to a new class of particles by introducing photofragmentation beam splitters into time-domain matter-wave interferometry. Photofragmentation gratings can act on objects as different as van der Waals clusters and biomolecules which are thermally unstable and often resilient to single-photon ionizat…
We report the possibility to generate tremendous light-field enhancements within shallow nano-trenches made in a high index dielectric material, because of resonant behaviours reminiscent of what we get with sub-wavelength plasmonic cavities. The high quality factors are explained through a modal analysis and can be tuned with appropriate design rules. The thin dielectric void gratings here simulated could be a relevant alternative to plasmon-based devices for chemical sensing, or could be used as efficient wavelength-selective photo-absorbers by taking weakly absorbing materials.
Commissioning measurements for a very cold neutron interferometer based on nanodiamond-polymer composite gratings
Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna（维也纳大学物理学院）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学物理与天文系）；Institut Laue-Langevin（朗之万研究所）；Grenoble INP-Phelma, Université Grenoble Alpes（格勒诺布尔国立理工学院Phelma，格勒诺布尔阿尔卑斯大学）；Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg（萨尔茨堡大学自然与生命科学学院材料与化学物理学系）；Department of Engineering Science, University of Electro-Communications（电气通信大学工程学系）
The emergence of optical micro/nano-fiber (MNF) with a subwavelength diameter, which has ultra-light mass and an intense light field, brings an opportunity for develop fiber based optomechanical systems. In this study, we theoretically show an optomechanical effect in silica MNF Bragg gratings (MNFBGs). The light-induced mechanical effect results in continuously distributed strain along the grating. It is shown that the power-related strain introduces an optically reconfigurable chirp in the grating period. We develop new optomechanical coupled-mode equations and theoretically analyze the infl…
Atomic three-grating Mach-Zehnder interferometry constitutes an important tool to probe fundamental aspects of the quantum theory. There is, however, a remarkable gap in the literature between the oversimplified models and robust numerical simulations considered to describe the corresponding experiments. Consequently, the former usually lead to paradoxical scenarios, such as the wave-particle dual behavior of atoms, while the latter make difficult the data analysis in simple terms. Here these issues are tackled by means of a simple grating working model consisting of evenly-spaced Gaussian sli…
In this work, we design a new tunable nanofocusing lens by the linear-variant depths and nonlinear-variant widths of circular grating for far field practical applications. The constructively interference of cylindrical surface plasmon launched by the subwavelength metallic structure can form a subdiffraction-limited focus, and the focal length of the this structures can be adjusted if the each groove depth and width of circular grating are arranged in traced profile. According to the numerical calculation, the range of focusing points shift is much more than other plasmonic lens, and the relat…
Understanding of material behaviour at nanoscale under intense laser excitation is becoming critical for future application of nanotechnologies. Nanograting formation by linearly polarised ultra-short laser pulses has been studied systematically in fused silica for various pulse energies at 3D laser printing/writing conditions, typically used for the industrial fabrication of optical elements. The period of the nanogratings revealed a dependence on the orientation of the scanning direction. A tilt of the nanograting wave vector at a fixed laser polarisation was also observed. The mechanism res…
Utilizing continues-wave or pulsed laser to induce nano-structures on various material surfaces is one significant method in nano-fabrication technology. In this report, we investigate the formation of high spatial frequency periodic structures on Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) film by a linearly polarized femtosecond laser. Ferric (Fe) ions are introduced into the film to improve the photosensitivity. Regular nano-gratings with spatial periods at the range of 60-100nm, which are about one tenth of the irradiating wavelength, can be induced. The period direction of the nano-gratings is perpendicu…
Fibre Bragg grating sensors have emerged as a simple, inexpensive, accurate, sensitive and reliable platform, a viable alternative to the traditional bulkier optical sensor platforms. In this work we present an extensive theoretical analysis of the tilted fibre Bragg grating sensor (TFBG) with a particular focus on its polarization-dependent properties. We have developed a highly efficient computer model capable of providing the full characterization of the TFBG device in less then $3$~minutes for a given state of incident light polarization. As a result, the polarization-dependent spectral re…
Tailoring the emission of plasmonic nanowire-based lasers represents one of the major challenges in the field of nanoplasmonics, given the envisaged integration of such devices into on-chip all-optical circuits. In this study, we proposed a mode selection scheme based on distributed feedback, achieved via the external coupling of single zinc oxide nanowires to an aluminum grating, which enabled a quasi-single mode lasing action. The nano-manipulation of a single nanowire allowed for a reliable comparison of the lasing emission characteristics in both planar (i.e. nanowire on the metallic subst…
The recent development of phase-grating moiré neutron interferometry promises a wide range of impactful experiments from dark-field imaging of material microstructure to precise measurements of fundamental constants. However, the contrast of 3 % obtained using this moiré interferometer was well below the theoretical prediction of 30 % using ideal gratings. It is suspected that non-ideal aspects of the phase-gratings was a leading contributor to this deficiency and that phase-gratings needed to be quantitatively assessed and optimized. Here we characterize neutron diffraction from phase-grating…
Embedding strong photonic stopbands into traditional optical fibre that can directly access and sense the outside environment is challenging, relying on tedious nanoprocessing steps that result in fragile thinned fibre. Ultrashort pulsed laser filaments have recently provided a non contact means of opening high aspect ratio nanoholes inside of bulk transparent glasses. This method has been extended here to optical fibre, resulting in high density arrays of laser filamented holes penetrating transversely through the silica cladding and guiding core to provide high refractive index contrast Brag…
We report a refractive index sensor comprising of unique T grating on top of periodic nano-cavities. The sensor has two resonant modes sensitive to different regions of the structure with low inter-region interference, hence allows simultaneous detection of two different analytes or more accurate detection of a single analyte. The sensor also provides a self-referencing feature for a broad range of refractive index, from 1.3 to 1.5. Using the FDTD method, the sensitivities of 801.7 nm/RIU and 1386.8 nm/RIU have been recorded for the two modes respectively. The versatility of the structure make…
We delineate the four principal surface plasmon polariton coupling and interaction mechanisms in subwavelength gratings, and demonstrate their significant roles in shaping the optical response of plasmonic gratings. Within the framework of width-graded metal-insulator-metal nano-gratings, mode confinement and wave guiding result in multiwavelength light localization provided conditions of adiabatic mode transformation are satisfied. The field is enhanced further through fine tuning of the groove-width (w), groove-depth (L) and groove-to-groove-separation (d). By juxtaposing the resonance modes…
We report on the detection of diffraction gratings buried below a stack of tens of 18 nm thick $\mathrm{SiO_2}$ and $\mathrm{Si_3N_4}$ layers and an optically opaque metal layer, using laser-induced, extremely-high frequency ultrasound. In our experiments, the shape and amplitude of a buried metal grating is encoded on the spatial phase of the reflected acoustic wave. This grating-shaped acoustic echo from the buried grating is detected by diffraction of a delayed probe pulse. The shape and strength of the time-dependent diffraction signal can be accurately predicted using a 2D numerical model…
We present an almost fully analytical technique for computing Casimir interactions between periodic lamellar gratings based on a modal approach. Our method improves on previous work on Casimir modal approaches for nanostructures by using the exact form of the eigenvectors of such structures, and computing eigenvalues by solving numerically a simple transcendental equation. In some cases eigenvalues can be solved for exactly, such as the zero frequency limit of gratings modeled by a Drude permittivity. Our technique also allows us to predict analytically the behavior of the Casimir interaction …
We demonstrate a 2-grating free electron Mach-Zehnder interferometer constructed in a transmission electron microscope. A symmetric binary phase grating and condenser lens system forms two spatially separated, focused probes at the sample which can be scanned while maintaining alignment. The two paths interfere at a second grating, creating in constructive or destructive interference in output beams. This interferometer has many notable features: positionable probe beams, large path separations relative to beam width, continuously tunable relative phase between paths, and real-time phase infor…
The generation of radiation from free electrons passing a grating, known as Smith-Purcell radiation, finds various applications including non-destructive beam diagnostics and tunable light sources, ranging from terahertz towards X-rays. So far, the gratings used for this purpose have been designed manually, based on human intuition and simple geometric shapes. Here we apply the computer-based technique of nanophotonic inverse design to build a 1400nm Smith-Purcell radiator for sub-relativistic 30 keV electrons. We demonstrate that the resulting silicon nanostructure radiates with a 3-times-hig…
In this paper are reviewed various designs of advanced, multi-aperture optical systems dedicated to high angular resolution imaging or to the detection of exo-planets by nulling interferometry. A simple Fourier optics formalism applicable to both imaging arrays and nulling interferometers is presented, allowing to derive their basic theoretical relationships as convolution or cross correlation products suitable for fast and accurate computation. Several unusual designs, such as a super-resolving telescope utilizing a mosaicking observation procedure or a free-flying, axially recombined interfe…
We demonstrate a nanostructure composed of partially etched annular trenches in a suspended GaAs membrane, designed for efficient and moderately broadband (approx. 5 nm) emission extraction from single InAs quantum dots. Simulations indicate that a dipole embedded in the nanostructure center radiates upwards into free space with a nearly Gaussian far-field, allowing a collection efficiency > 80 % with a high numerical aperture (NA=0.7) optic, and with 12X Purcell radiative rate enhancement. Fabricated devices exhibit an approx. 10 % photon collection efficiency with a NA=0.42 objective, a 20X …
Efficient imaging of biomolecules, 2D materials and electromagnetic fields depends on retrieval of the phase of transmitted electrons. We demonstrate a method to measure phase in a scanning transmission electron microscope using a nanofabricated diffraction grating to produce multiple probe beams. The measured phase is more interpretable than phase-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques without an off-axis reference wave, and the resolution could surpass that of off-axis electron holography. We apply the technique to image nanoparticles, carbon sub- strates and electric …
In this paper, the implementation of optical elements in the form of Pancharatnam-Berry optics is considered. With respect to 3D bulk and diffractive optics, acting on the dynamic phase of light, Pancharatnam-Berry optical elements transfer a phase which is geometric in nature by locally manipulating the polarization state of the incident beam. They can be realized as space-variant sub-wavelengths gratings that behave like inhomogeneous form-birefringent materials. We present a comprehensive work of simulation, realization, and optical characterization at the telecom wavelength of 1310 nm of t…
