High-resolution phase imaging of phase singularities in the focal region of a lens

Nodal-line dynamics via exact polynomial solutions for coherent waves traversing aberrated imaging systems

We obtain exact polynomial solutions for two-dimensional coherent complex scalar fields propagating through arbitrary aberrated shift-invariant linear imaging systems. These solutions are used to model nodal-line dynamics of coherent fields output by such systems.

Array truncation effects in infrared frequency selective surfaces

A metasurface consisting of an infinite array of square loops was designed for maximal absorptivity for s-polarized light at a wavelength of 10.6 µm and 60 degrees off-normal. We investigate the effects of array truncation in finite arrays of this design using far-field FTIR spectroscopy and scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy. The far-field spectra are observed to blue-shift with decreasing array size. The near-field images show a corresponding decrease in uniformity of the local electric field amplitude and phase spatial distributions. Simulations of the far-field absorption spectra and local electric field are consistent with the measured results.

Phase-retrieved pupil function and coherent transfer function in confocal microscopy

This work reports on the retrieval of the pupil function and coherent transfer function of a coherent reflection type confocal microscope from simulated measurements of the intensity point spread function. Two phase retrieval algorithms are presented in this vein, which incorporate the multiple pupil dependence of image formation in confocal microscopy. Verification of the algorithms follows by numerical simulations.

NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL VORTEXES AT NANOSTRUCTURED METALLIC FILMS

The scattering of linearly polarized monochromatic light by a small protrusion on a metal surface is analyzed within the framework of perturbation theory. It is shown that even at normal incidence of light slight deviations of the protrusion shape from a circularly symmetric one can lead to formation of optical vortexes in the near-field region. The effect is due to resonant excitation of cylindrical surface plasmon waves. This agrees with the fact that the in-plane near-field intensity distribution experimentally observed by scanning near-field optical microscopy has distinct spiral patterns near metallized nanostructured polymer substrates.

On the complex three-dimensional amplitude point spread function of lenses and microscope objectives: theoretical aspects, simulations and measurements by digital holography

The point spread function is widely used to characterize the three-dimensional imaging capabilities of an optical system. Usually, attention is paid only to the intensity point spread function, whereas the phase point spread function is most often neglected because the phase information is not retrieved in noninterferometric imaging systems. However, phase point spread functions are needed to evaluate phase-sensitive imaging systems and we believe that phase data can play an essential role in the full aberrations' characterization. In this paper, standard diffraction models have been used for the computation of the complex amplitude point spread function. In particular, the Debye vectorial model has been used to compute the amplitude point spread function of x63/0.85 and x100/1.3 microscope objectives, exemplifying the phase point spread function specific for each polarization component of the electromagnetic field. The effect of aberrations on the phase point spread function is then analyzed for a microscope objective used under nondesigned conditions, by developing the Gibson model (Gibson & Lanni, 1991), modified to compute the three-dimensional amplitude point spread function in amplitude and phase. The results have revealed a novel anomalous phase behaviour in the presence of spherical aberration, providing access to the quantification of the aberrations. This work mainly proposes a method to measure the complex three-dimensional amplitude point spread function of an optical imaging system. The approach consists in measuring and interpreting the amplitude point spread function by evaluating in amplitude and phase the image of a single emitting point, a 60-nm-diameter tip of a Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy fibre, with an original digital holographic experimental setup. A single hologram gives access to the transverse amplitude point spread function. The three-dimensional amplitude point spread function is obtained by performing an axial scan of the Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy fibre. The phase measurements accuracy is equivalent to lambda/60 when the measurement is performed in air. The method capability is demonstrated on an Achroplan x20 microscope objective with 0.4 numerical aperture. A more complete study on a x100 microscope objective with 1.3 numerical aperture is also presented, in which measurements performed with our setup are compared with the prediction of an analytical aberrations model.

Surface plasmon polariton-based optical beam profiler

We describe a surface plasmon polariton- (SPP-) based device for measuring the intensity distribution of strongly focused light beams. A gold thin film configured as a sharp step is positioned in the focal region of a light beam, converting light into SPPs. The SPPs emit directional leakage radiation into the glass substrate beneath the thin film. The intensity of the leakage radiation is proportional to the intensity of the incident local light at the position of the step, allowing us to reconstruct the optical field profile by scanning the thin film's edge through the focal region.

Topological defects in moiré fringes with spiral zone plates

We present a study of spatial structures created by superposition of spiral zone plates used for generating optical beams with phase singularities. Moiré fringes are observed that show topological defects similar to those appearing in interference patterns of optical vortices. A brief theoretical discussion is included that supports the similarities between the two phenomena. Our results may lead to interesting applications to digital information processing by optical means.