We present the results of numerical simulations and preliminary experiments to investigate the nano-focusing effect of incident light based on the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on the nano-metallic-planar-apex metamaterials (NMPAM). The NMPAM are prepared by Focused Ion Beam lithography (FIB), a nanoscale fabrication tool. The NMPAM can be used to remarkably enhance the strength of the surface evanescent and lead to the excitation of several SPP modes on the metal surface. The interaction of different SPPs result in unique near-field optical properties for imaging and optical storage, so as to focus light into a nano-size point and thus enhance the light power greatly. The energy flow and electromagnetic field distribution is calculated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The nano-spot position and intensity is experimentally shown to be controlled by the array of the apex. In our experiments, we fabricate a 10×10 array by FIB, and then the scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is used to observe the optical power distribution in nano-scale at the air-metal interface in the infrared region. we find that the light can be focus into ~100nm-scale and consequently enhance the light power up to several times than before common focusing method. The principle of nano-focusing based on nano-planar-apex is theoretically explained. The NMPAM can be utilized for coupling with infrared pixels to enhance the incident light converging so as to improve signal to noise ratio of infrared detection.
Polarization-independent microlens array based on liquid crystal (PI-LCMLA) has been an interesting and important topic in optoelectronic application. In this study, a polarization-independent microlens array using double layered nematic liquid crystals (LC) with orthogonal alignment is proposed and demonstrated. Two orthogonal LC layers are separated by a double-sided indium-tin oxide silica. Further optical experiments and investigations reveals that the PILCMLA can work in polarization and polarization-insensitive mode by operating the driving voltages. The normalized focusing intensity is no polarization dependence on the incident light. Several raw images at different working modes are obtained through by utilizing this novel configuration with low applied voltages. With advantages in high optical efficiency, simple manufacture, electrically tunable focal length, low power consumption, polarization independence and multi operation modes, this device can not only be used for imaging application but also has many potential applications in optical systems.
Based on our previous works in liquid-crystal microlens arrays (LCMAs), a new kind of optical switches using the 24×24 fiber arrays coupled with the LCMAs, which have a key dual-mode function of the switches about on and off state and work in visible and infrared range, is proposed and fabricated in this paper. Different with other common LCMAs, this new kind of dual-mode LCMAs includes two layers of control electrodes deposited directly over the surface of the top glass substrate in LC microcavity fabricated. The first layer is the patterned electrode, which is designed into basic circular holes with suitable diameter, and the second is the planar electrode. Both layered electrodes are effectively separated by a thin SiO2 film with a typical thickness of about several micrometers, and then the dual-mode microlenses are driven by applied electrical signals with different root mean square (rms) voltage.
Enormous pressures have been puts on current optical storage technologies as the rapid development of information technologies. Recently, it has been found that the surface plasmon–polaritons'modes (SPPMs) in metallic nanostructures may lead to the high localization of guided light beams with nanometer size and only limited by several factors such as atomic structure, dissipation, and light dispersion, and thus far beyond the common diffraction limit of electromagnetic waves in dielectric media. This discovery provides a way to produce nanoscale light signal and thus makes a significant breakthrough in optical storage technologies. In this paper, our work focuses on the modeling and simulation of particular kinds of patterned metal-based nanostructure fabricated over silicon dioxide (SiO2) wafer. The nanostructures designed are expected to concentrate, deliver incident light energy into nanoscale regions and generate nanoscale light signal. In our research, the duty cycle of patterned nanostructures is taken as a key parameter, and then the factors including the patterned nanostructures, the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave, the size of patterned nanostructure and the distance arrangement between adjacent single patterns, are taken as variables. The common CST microwave studio is used to simulate beam transportation and transformation behaviors. By comparing electric-field intensity distribution in nano-areas and the reflectance of the nanostructure array, the nano-light-emission effects are analyzed.
A two-layered construction composed of micro-nano-structures is fabricated to investigate the key properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the range of terahertz wave. The construction is mainly two layered micro-nano-structures (MNSs), and the utilized substrates are silicon materials currently. One silicon substrate is covered by a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). Another silicon substrate is sputtered by a thin aluminum film, which is further patterned to shape functioned sub-wavelength aluminum structures (SWASs). Both aluminum film and ITO film are coupled to form a micro-cavity using micro-spheres spacers. The typical terahertz (THz) transmission of the construction is measured. The experimental results demonstrate that some extraordinary transmission peaks called the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) appear in THz transmittance spectrum. The analysis results indicate that THz radiation excites effectively SPPs over the SWASs.
Currently, several semiconducting oxide materials such as typical indium tin oxide are widely used as the transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) in liquid crystal microlens arrays. In this paper, we fabricate a liquid crystal microlens array using graphene rather than semiconducting oxides as the TCE. Common optical experiments are carried out to acquire the focusing features of the graphene-based liquid crystal microlens array (GLCMLA) driven electrically. The acquired optical fields show that the GLCMLA can converge incident collimating lights efficiently. The relationship between the focal length and the applied voltage signal is presented. Then the GLCMLA is deployed in a plenoptic camera prototype and the raw images are acquired so as to verify their imaging capability. Our experiments demonstrate that graphene has already presented a broad application prospect in the area of adaptive optics.
In this paper, we design and fabricate a kind of liquid crystal microlens arrays (LCMAs) with patterned electrodes made of monolayer graphene, which is grown on copper sheet by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Graphene is the first two-dimensional atomic crystal. It uniquely combines extreme mechanical strength, high optically transmittance from visible light to infrared spectrum, and excellent electrical conductivity. These properties make it highly attractive for various applications in photonic devices that require conductive but transparent thin films. The graphene-based LCMAs have shown excellent optical performances in the tests. By adjusting the voltage signal loaded over the graphene-based LCMAs, the point spread functions (PSF) and focusing images of incident laser beams with different wavelengths, could be obtained. At the same time, we also get the focusing images of the common ITO-based LCMAs under the same experimental conditions to discuss the advantages and disadvantages between them. Further, the graphene-based LCMAs are also used in visible imaging. During the imaging tests, the graphene electrodes in the LCMAs work well.
Based on our previous works on liquid crystal microlenses driven and adjusted electrically, we present a new type of liquid crystal microlens arrays with dual-mode function (DLCMAs). Currently, the DLCMAs developed by us consist of a top electrode couple constructed by two layers of controlling electrode structure, and a bottom electrode. The top two electrode layers are respectively deposited over both sides of a glass substrate and insulated by a thin SiO2 coating, so as to act as the mode-control-part in the DLCMAs. Another planar electrode layer acting as the base electrode is deposited over the surface of a glass substrate. Two glass substrates with fabricated electrode structure are coupled into a microcavity filled by nematic liquid crystal material. The DLCMAs proposed in this paper present excellent divergence and convergence performances only loading relatively low driving voltage signal. The common optical properties of the micro-optics-structures are given experimentally.
An arrayed electrically tunable infrared (IR) filter based on the key structure of liquid crystal Fabry-Perot (LC-FP) working in the wavelength range from 2.5 to 12 μm, is designed and fabricated successfully. According to the electrically controlled birefringence characteristics of nematic LC molecules, the refractive index of LC materials filled into a prefabricated microcavity can be adjusted by the spatial electric field stimulated between the top aluminum electrode patterned by conventional UV-photolithography and the bottom aluminum electrode in the LC-FP. The particular functions including key spectral selection and spectral adjustment, can be performed by the developed LC-FP filter driven and controlled electrically. Our experiments show that the maximum transmittance of the transmission peaks is ~24% and the peaks of transmission spectrum shift through applying different voltage signals with a root mean square (RMS) value ranging from 0 to ~21.7Vrms. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation according to the model constructed by us. As a 4-channel array-type IR filter, the top electrode of the device is composed of four same sub-electrodes, which is powered, respectively, to select desired transmission spectrum. Each of the units in the device is operated separately and synchronously, which means that spectral images of the same object can be obtained with different wavelengths in one shot. Without any mechanical parts, the developed LC-FP filter exhibits several advantages including ultra-small size, low cost, high reliability, high spectral selectivity, and compact integration.
In this paper, the planar micro-nano-coils (PMNCs) with diverse planar spiral structures are designed for electrically driving and controlling liquid crystal microlenses (LCMs) based on wireless power transmission approaches. The PMNCs with different basic shapes are fabricated, including typical micro-triangle, micro-square, micro-pentagon, micro-hexagon, and micro-circle. According to the designed microstructures, using loop iterative approximation means based on Greenhouse algorithm, the inductance values of the microcoils can be calculated through combining self-inductance with mutual-inductance. In experiments, both the wet and dry etching technologies are adapted to obtain the desired PMNCs over aluminum-coated glass substrates. The etching technologies utilized by us are implemented on initial glass substrates spread by photoresist mask, which has been processed by common ultraviolet lithography. And the wet and dry etching technologies are different in the way of eroding aluminum film. Usually, the wet etching is a kind of the chemical reaction of alkali element in the developing liquid used, but the dry etching is a type of physical etching process such as the ion beam etching so as to fabricate microstructures with smaller size than that of wet etching. After the fabrication of the PMNCs, the electrical testing circuit for the inductance of the PMNCs is built to obtain their actual inductance values. By comparing inductances with theoretical prediction, the improved PMNCs are proposed for driving and controlling LCMs, which demonstrates enhanced light transmission efficiency of the PMNCs, and makes it more efficient to adjust LCMs developed by us.
In this paper, an arrayed liquid crystal (LC) microlens (ALCM) based on graphene electrode instead of common indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode material is designed and fabricated, and the corresponding testing results have been obtained and presented. The graphene film used as patterned electrode in the project is grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) over copper foils, which demonstrate the properties of low sheet resistance and high transmittance of more than 90% in current stage. The key fabrication of the arrayed LC microlens based on graphene electrode includes the graphene transfering, ultraviolet lithography, ICP etching, liquid crystalline polymer encapsulation, etc. In the test of the arrayed LC microlens, the point spread functions (PSF) of incident laser beams with different wavelengths, such as red laser of ~600nm wavelength, and green laser of ~532nm wavelength, have been obtained. In addition, the arrayed LC microlenses are also used in visible light imaging. During the imaging tests, each microlens in the arrayed LC microlens can perform imaging process, independently.
Current researches show that the surface plasmon-polariton modes (SPPMs) in metallic nanostructures can lead to a powerful localization of guided light signals, which is generally as small as a few nanometers and thus far beyond the diffraction limit of electromagnetic waves in dielectric media. In this paper, our attention is paid to the modeling and simulation of particular kinds of patterned metal-based nanostructure fabricated over several common wafers such as typical silicon dioxide. The nanostructures are designed for concentrating and delivering incident light energy into nanoscale regions. In our research, the factors, for instance, optical materials, patterned nano-structures, the distance arrangement between adjacent single nanopattern, and the frequency of incident electromagnetic wave, are taken as variables, and further the CST microwave studio is used to simulate optical behaviors of the devices developed by us. By comparing the transmittance and electric field intensity distribution in small area, the nano-light-emission effects are analyzed, and the conditions for obtaining near-field nanospots have been chosen.
In order to investigate the key properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), a new kind of device based on sub-wavelength aluminum structures (SWASs) have been designed and fabricated with respect to incident radiation in terahertz (THz) range. The device is composed of two layered micro-nano-structures and the utilized substrates are silicon materials in current stage. One silicon substrate is sputtered directly by a thin aluminum film, which is further patterned to shape functioned micro-nano-structures. The THz transmission performances of the devices have been measured according to common optical approaches. The experimental results show that some extraordinary transmission peaks are clearly presented in terahertz transmittance spectrum, which is inconsistent with the classical aperture theory of Bethe. The effects of the developed SPPs are discussed carefully according to the discovered phenomena about the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT).
Based on our previous work in liquid-crystal microlens arrays (LCMAs), a new kind of arrayed optical switches (AOSs) based on LCMAs with a key dual-mode function including beam convergence and divergence, is proposed and simulated in this paper. Different with our previous LCMAs, the developed LCMAs leading to AOSs have two layers of control electrodes deposited directly over the surface of the top glass substrate. One is the patterned electrode, which is designed into basic circular holes with suitable diameter, and the other is the planar electrode. Both layered electrodes are effectively separated by a thin SiO2 film with a typical thickness of about several micrometers, and then driven by electrical signals with different root mean square (rms) voltage amplitude. The experiment results show that the AOSs can work well through applying proper voltage signals over the device. Compared with other AOS structures, our AOSs have a greater integration level and lower cost.
As we all know, because the index of refraction of the conventional microlens array (MLA) is not variable, the wavefront sensor based on the conventional MLA can only obtain the intensity image with low-resolution when it is used to measure the wavefront information simultaneously. In this paper, we use the dual-mode photosensitive arrays based on the liquid crystal (LC) MLA and CMOS sensors to obtain both intensity images with high-resolution and wavefronts.
The dual-mode photosensitive arrays can work between an imaging mode and a wavefront sensor mode by switching the voltage off and on. In the experiment, we compare the composite wavefront of the object exposured in a white light with the wavefronts of the same object in tricolor laser. Because using the monochromatic light to measure the wavefront of an object may loss some information, it is a better method to use the white light for obtaining the wavefront information of the single object in the black background. We also discussed how to mix the wavefronts of the red green and blue laser to make the mixed wavefront which is closer to the composite wavefront.
A type of liquid crystal microlens array (LCMLA) with tunable focal length by the voltage signals applied between its top and bottom electrodes, is fabricated and then the common optical focusing characteristics are tested. The relationship between the focal length and the applied voltage signals is given. The LCMLA is integrated with an image sensor and further coupled with a main lens so as to construct a plenoptic camera. Several raw images at different voltage signals applied are acquired and contrasted through the LCMLA-based plenoptic camera constructed by us. Our experiments demonstrate that through utilizing a LCMLA in a plenoptic camera, the focused zone of the LCMLA-based plenoptic camera can be shifted effectively only by changing the voltage signals loaded between the electrodes of the LCMLA, which is equivalent to the extension of the depth of field.
KEYWORDS: Signal processing, Receivers, Single mode fibers, Optical communications, Photodiodes, Telecommunications, Systems modeling, Dispersion, Channel projecting optics, Linear filtering
In this paper, we propose an effective possibility density functions method of channel estimation with Viterbi algorithm
based on transitions. We also investigate the performance of the electronic dispersion compensation schemes via this
new channel estimation method. The schemes Simulation results show that it exhibits the similar performance with the
sophisticated MLSE scheme.
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