Electro-optic modulation of light propagating near the optic axis with any polarization in uniaxial crystals

The electro-optic effect in uniaxial crystals for light propagating near the optic axis with any polarization has been analyzed. The passive and the electrically induced birefringences and the rotation of polarization direction in crystals have been calculated, and the conoscopic interference figures under orthogonal polariscopes for different polarizer directions have been plotted. The extinction areas caused by the rotation of polarization direction in crystals change with the polarizer direction, but the two heads of the induced optical axes do not vary, which are always on the induced principal axis with bigger refractive index. The directions of polariscopes are always extinction, and the +/- 45 degrees directions with polarizer are always complete transmission. The conoscopic interference figures for LiNbO3 crystals have been demonstrated experimentally by rotating polariscopes directions, which accord with the theoretically calculating plots. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Visual field coordinates of pupillary circular axis and optical axis

Purpose: We term the visual field position from which the pupil appears most nearly circular as the pupillary circular axis (PCAx). The aim was to determine and compare the horizontal and vertical co-ordinates of the PCAx and optical axis from pupil shape and refraction information for only the horizontal meridian of the visual field. Method: The PCAx was determined from the changes with visual field angle in the ellipticity and orientation of pupil images out to ±90° from fixation along the horizontal meridian for the right eyes of 30 people. This axis was compared with the optical axis determined from the changes in the astigmatic components of the refractions for field angles out to ±35° in the same meridian. Results: The mean estimated horizontal and vertical field coordinates of the PCAx were (‒5.3±1.9°, ‒3.2±1.5°) compared with (‒4.8±5.1°, ‒1.5±3.4°) for the optical axis. The vertical co-ordinates of the two axes were just significantly different (p =0.03) but there was no significant correlation between them. Only the horizontal coordinate of the PCAx was significantly related to the refraction in the group. Conclusion: On average, the PCAx is displaced from the line-of-sight by about the same angle as the optical axis but there is more inter-subject variation in the position of the optical axis. When modelling the optical performance of the eye, it appears reasonable to assume that the pupil is circular when viewed along the line-of-sight.

入射光偏振方向对LiNbO3晶体近光轴电光调制的影响

分析了在垂直LiNbO3晶体光轴方向加电压，光沿近光轴方向传播时，入射光偏振方向对电光调制器的影响。通过计算加电场后双折射光程差的变化和偏光振动方向的转动，画出在正交偏振镜下不同起偏方向的锥光干涉图，得到干涉图随起偏方向变化的规律：由偏光振动方向转动引起的消光区域随起偏方向的转动而转动，在起偏和检偏方向上始终消光，在与起偏方向成±45°角方向始终全透光，并且消光线的交点即感应双光轴头不随起偏方向的转动而变化，始终在折射率变大的感应主轴上。

Decentred optical axes and aberrations along principal visual field meridians

Suggestions that peripheral imagery may affect the development of refractive error have led to interest in the variation in refraction and aberration across the visual field. It is shown that, if the optical system of the eye is rotationally symmetric about an optical axis which does not coincide with the visual axis, measurements of refraction and aberration made along the horizontal and vertical meridians of the visual field will show asymmetry about the visual axis. The departures from symmetry are modelled for second-order aberrations, refractive components and third-order coma. These theoretical results are compared with practical measurements from the literature. The experimental data support the concept that departures from symmetry about the visual axis in the measurements of crossed-cylinder astigmatism J45 and J180 are largely explicable in terms of a decentred optical axis. Measurements of the mean sphere M suggest, however, that the retinal curvature must differ in the horizontal and vertical meridians.

High resolution multiple excitation spot optical microscopy

We propose fundamental improvements in three-dimensional (3D) resolution of multiple excitation spot optical microscopy. The excitation point spread function (PSF) is generated by two interfering counter-propagating depth-of-focus beams along the optical axis. Detection PSF is obtained by coherently interfering the emitted fluorescent light (collected by both the objectives) at the detector. System PSF shows upto 14-fold reduction in focal volume as compared to confocal, and almost 2-fold improvement in lateral resolution. Proposed PSF has the ability to simultaneously excite multiple 3D-spots of sub-femtoliter volume. Potential applications are in fluorescence microscopy and nanobioimaging. Copyright 2011 Author(s). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. [doi:10.1063/1.3598413]

Analysis of optical systems with extended depth of field using the Wigner distribution function

We describe the use of a Wigner distribution function approach for exploring the problem of extending the depth of field in a hybrid imaging system. The Wigner distribution function, in connection with the phase-space curve that formulates a joint phase-space description of an optical field, is employed as a tool to display and characterize the evolving behavior of the amplitude point spread function as a wave propagating along the optical axis. It provides a comprehensive exhibition of the characteristics for the hybrid imaging system in extending the depth of field from both wave optics and geometrical optics. We use it to analyze several well-known optical designs in extending the depth of field from a new viewpoint. The relationships between this approach and the earlier ambiguity function approach are also briefly investigated. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Light capsules shaped by curvilinear meta-surfaces

We propose a simple yet efficient method for generating in-plane hollow beams with a nearly full circular light shell without the contribution of backward propagating waves. The method relies on modulating the phase in the near field of a centrosymmetric optical wave front, such as that from a high-numerical-aperture focused wave field. We illustrate how beam acceleration may be carried out by using an ultranarrow non-flat meta-surface formed by engineered plasmonic nanoslits. A mirror-symmetric, with respect to the optical axis, circular caustic surface is numerically demonstrated that can be used as an optical bottle.

Manipulation and growth of birefringent protein crystals in optical tweezers

We report on the trapping, rotation, and in-situ growth of birefringent tetragonal lysozyme crystals in optical tweezers operating at a wavelength of 1070 nm. Variation of the pH and lysozyme concentration of the solution during growth was used to alter the length to width ratio of the crystals, and hence their orientation in the tweezers. Crystals with the optical axis skewed or perpendicular to the trapping-beam axis could be rotated by changing the orientation of linearly polarized light. We observed spontaneous spinning of some asymmetric crystals in the presence of linearly polarized light, due to radiation pressure effects. Addition of protein to the solution in the tweezers permitted real-time observation of crystal growth. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.

Determining which factors influence the optimum multifocal contact lens correction for presbyopia

Presbyopia is a consequence of ageing and is therefore increasing inprevalence due to an increase in the ageing population. Of the many methods available to manage presbyopia, the use of contact lenses is indeed a tried and tested reversible option for those wishing to be spectacle free. Contact lens options to correct presbyopia include multifocal contact lenses and monovision.Several options have been available for many years with available guides to help choose multifocal contact lenses. However there is no comprehensive way to help the practitioner selecting the best option for an individual. An examination of the simplest way of predicting the most suitable multifocal lens for a patient will only enhance and add to the current evidence available. The purpose of the study was to determine the current use of presbyopic correction modalities in an optometric practice population in the UK and to evaluate and compare the optical performance of four silicone hydrogel soft multifocal contact lenses and to compare multifocal performance with contact lens monovision. The presbyopic practice cohort principal forms of refractive correction were distance spectacles (with near and intermediate vision providedby a variety of other forms of correction), varifocal spectacles and unaided distance with reading spectacles, with few patients wearing contact lenses as their primary correction modality. The results of the multifocal contact lens randomised controlled trial showed that there were only minor differences in corneal physiology between the lens options. Visual acuity differences were observed for distance targets, but only for low contrast letters and under mesopic lighting conditions. At closer distances between 20cm and 67cm, the defocus curves demonstrated that there were significant differences in acuity between lens designs (p < 0.001) and there was an interaction between the lens design and the level of defocus (p < 0.001). None of the lenses showed a clear near addition, perhaps due to their more aspheric rather than zoned design. As expected, stereoacuity was reduced with monovision compared with the multifocal contact lens designs, although there were some differences between the multifocal lens designs (p < 0.05). Reading speed did not differ between lens designs (F = 1.082, p = 0.368), whereas there was a significant difference in critical print size (F = 7.543, p < 0.001). Glare was quantified with a novel halometer and halo size was found to significantly differ between lenses(F = 4.101, p = 0.004). The rating of iPhone image clarity was significantly different between presbyopic corrections (p = 0.002) as was the Near Acuity Visual Questionnaire (NAVQ) rating of near performance (F = 3.730, p = 0.007).The pupil size did not alter with contact lens design (F = 1.614, p = 0.175), but was larger in the dominant eye (F = 5.489, p = 0.025). Pupil decentration relative to the optical axis did not alter with contact lens design (F = 0.777, p =0.542), but was also greater in the dominant eye (F = 9.917, p = 0.003). It was interesting to note that there was no difference in spherical aberrations induced between the contact lens designs (p > 0.05), with eye dominance (p > 0.05) oroptical component (ocular, corneal or internal: p > 0.05). In terms of subjective patient lens preference, 10 patients preferred monovision,12 Biofinity multifocal lens, 7 Purevision 2 for Presbyopia, 4 AirOptix multifocal and 2 Oasys multifocal contact lenses. However, there were no differences in demographic factors relating to lifestyle or personality, or physiological characteristics such as pupil size or ocular aberrations as measured at baseline,which would allow a practitioner to identify which lens modality the patient would prefer. In terms of the performance of patients with their preferred lens, it emerged that Biofinity multifocal lens preferring patients had a better high contrast acuity under photopic conditions, maintained their reading speed at smaller print sizes and subjectively rated iPhone clarity as better with this lens compared with the other lens designs trialled. Patients who preferred monovision had a lower acuity across a range of distances and a larger area of glare than those patients preferring other lens designs that was unexplained by the clinical metrics measured. However, it seemed that a complex interaction of aberrations may drive lens preference. New clinical tests or more diverse lens designs which may allow practitioners to prescribe patients the presbyopic contact lens option that will work best for them first time remains a hope for the future.

Combining Cartesian and polar coordinates in IBVS

Image-based visual servo (IBVS) is a simple, efficient and robust technique for vision-based control. Although technically a local method in practice it demonstrates almost global convergence. However IBVS performs very poorly for cases that involve large rotations about the optical axis. It is well known that re-parameterizing the problem by using polar, instead of Cartesian coordinates, of feature points overcomes this limitation. First, simulation and experimental results are presented to show the complementarity of these two parameter-izations. We then describe a new hybrid visual servo strategy based on combining polar and Cartesian image Jacobians. © 2009 IEEE.

Multiple excitation nano-spot generation and confocal detection for far-field microscopy

An imaging technique is developed for the controlled generation of multiple excitation nano-spots for far-field microscopy. The system point spread function (PSF) is obtained by interfering two counter-propagating extended depth-of-focus PSF (DoF-PSF), resulting in highly localized multiple excitation spots along the optical axis. The technique permits (1) simultaneous excitation of multiple planes in the specimen; (2) control of the number of spots by confocal detection; and (3) overcoming the point-by-point based excitation. Fluorescence detection from the excitation spots can be efficiently achieved by Z-scanning the detector/pinhole assembly. The technique complements most of the bioimaging techniques and may find potential application in high resolution fluorescence microscopy and nanoscale imaging.

Chain of excitation spot generation by aperture engineering

An optical technique is proposed for obtaining multiple excitation spots. Phase-matched counter propagating extended depth-of-focus fields were superimposed along the optical axis for generating multiple localized excitation spots. Moreover, the filtering effect due to the optical mask increases the lateral resolution. Proposed technique introduces the concept of simultaneous multiplane excitation and improves three-dimensional resolution. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Simultaneous multilayer scanning and detection for multiphoton fluorescence microscopy

Fast three-dimensional (3D) imaging requires parallel optical slicing of a specimen with an efficient detection scheme. The generation of multiple localized dot-like excitation structures solves the problem of simultaneous slicing multiple specimen layers, but an efficient detection scheme is necessary. Confocal theta detection (detection at 90 degrees to the optical axis) provides a suitable detection platform that is capable of cross-talk-free fluorescence detection from each nanodot (axial dimension approximate to 150 nm). Additionally, this technique has the unique feature of imaging a specimen at a large working distance with super-resolution capabilities. Polarization studies show distinct field structures for fixed and fluid samples, indicating a non-negligible field-dipole interaction. The realization of the proposed imaging technique will advance and diversify multiphoton fluorescence microscopy for numerous applications in nanobioimaging and optical engineering.

Flow properties of a dusty-gas point source in a supersonic free stream

By using Lagrangian method, the flow properties of a dusty-gas point source in a supersonic free stream were studied and the particle parameters in the near-symmetry-axis region were obtained. It is demonstrated that fairly inertial particles travel along oscillating and intersecting trajectories between the bow and termination shock waves. In this region,formation of "multi-layer structure" in particle distribution with alternating low- and highdensity layers is revealed. Moreover, sharp accumulation of particles occurs near the envelopes of particle trajectories.

Supersonic dusty-gas flows with Knudsen effect in interphase momentum exchange

On the basis of the two-continuum model of dilute gas-solid suspensions, the dynamic behavior of inertial particles in supersonic dusty-gas flows past a blunt body is studied for moderate Reynolds numbers, when the Knudsen effect in the interphase momentum exchange is significant. The limits of the inertial particle deposition regime in the space of governing parameters are found numerically under the assumption of the slip and free-molecule flow regimes around particles. As a model problem, the flow structure is obtained for a supersonic dusty-gas point-source flow colliding with a hypersonic flow of pure gas. The calculations performed using the full Lagrangian approach for the near-symmetry-axis region and the free-molecular flow regime around the particles reveal a multi-layer structure of the dispersed-phase density with a sharp accumulation of the particles in some thin regions between the bow and termination shock waves.