Physics Commons^™

Light As A Lasso: The Design And Construction Of An Optical Trap, Joseph E. Temple

ATU Scholars Symposium

The goal of our work is the design and construction of an optical trap, also known as an "optical tweezer," using equipment commonly available to the undergraduate physics laboratory. Such devices allow us to observe and manipulate micron-scale (on the order of one-thousandth of a millimeter) objects in 3-dimensional space using only light.

The system consists primarily of five components: a laser, two mirrors to collimate (make parallel to the optical table) the beam, two lenses forming a beam expander, two more lenses granting control over the trapping plane, and a microscope objective to focus the beam. Thus far we …

Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonics: Fundamentals And Applications, Mingyuan Hong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum plasmonics explores the interaction between light and collective charge oscillations at metal-dielectric interfaces, enabling strong light confinement and enhanced quantum effects at the nanoscale. While traditional quantum optics has primarily focused on single-photon systems, an intermediate regime exists between classical and single-photon optics - multiparticle (or multiphoton) quantum optics. In this regime, classical light sources, when analyzed through techniques such as photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection and projective measurement, can reveal nontrivial quantum correlations. This thesis investigates how multiparticle quantum plasmonics harnesses these correlations to control quantum statistical properties, enhance coherence, and enable novel applications in quantum technologies.

In this thesis, …

Spectral Width Of Maximum Deposition Eigenchannels In Diffusive Media, Rohin E. Mcintosh, Arthur Goetschy, Nicholas Bender, Alexey Yamilov, Chia Wei Hsu, Hasan Yllmaz, Hui Cao

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The maximum deposition eigenchannel provides the largest possible power delivery to a target region inside a diffusive medium by optimizing the incident wavefront of a monochromatic beam. It originates from constructive interference of scattered waves, which is frequency sensitive. We investigate the spectral width of the maximum deposition eigenchannels over a range of target depths using numerical simulations of a 2D diffusive system. Compared to tight focusing into the system, power deposition to an extended region is more sensitive to frequency detuning. The spectral width of enhanced delivery to a large target displays a rather weak, nonmonotonic variation with target …

Painting Rich Six-Dimensional Pictures Using Polarized Fluorescence Microscopy, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Optical Spring Tracking For Enhancing Quantum-Limited Interferometers, Scott M. Aronson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Gravitational waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916. Calculations in the 1970s by Rainer Weiss showed an interferometer of sufficient size could realistically detect gravitational waves, which led to a grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF). With steady progress and over decades of funding by the NSF, the construction of two full scale 4km interferometers was approved and began construction in 1994. This project, coined LIGO the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, came to be a worldwide collaboration of scientists dedicated to the discovery and study of gravitational waves. In 2015, both LIGO detectors detected a coincident inspiral …

The Impact Of Solar Angle And Cloud Shadows On 3d Reconstruction Of Rolling Stock Cargo, Carlina M. Ostrand, Adam D. Reiman, Frank W. Ciarallo, Scott L. Nykl, Clark N. Taylor, Joshua F. Krutz

Faculty Publications

Meeting the relentless demand for more efficient air cargo transportation is of paramount importance for commercial needs and military missions. This study describes an experiment to test an innovative approach that harnesses cutting-edge stereoscopic vision technology to create 3D point clouds of rolling stock cargo across varying solar angles and cloud shadow conditions. Virtual cargo point clouds are generated by calibrating and systematically organizing the depth and location points from an RGB-D camera and then reprojecting them in a virtual environment. Measurement accuracy was rigorously tested across six camera positions in various combinations of weather conditions against physical ground truth …

Vorticies In The Nonlinear Optical Fluid, Patrick C. Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we review the dynamics of the propagation of a laser through a nonlinear medium, and the dynamics of a self-interacting superfluid phase, and show a mathematical analogy between them. We identify an equivalence that allows direct comparison of the properties and dynamics of the optical fluid with those of the Bose-Einstein condensate. Next, we describe some experimental techniques and methods for data capture and analysis on the way to presenting a novel experimental apparatus that has allowed us to study non-equilibrium nonlinear vortex dynamics in the optical fluid, and that will allow more general future studies of …

Correlating Aerosol Morphology And Optical Properties With Image Blur: An Investigation Of Aerosol-Induced Image Degradation, Patricia A. Byrd

Theses and Dissertations

Small-angle scattering by relatively large cloud/fog droplets and ice crystals is known to degrade imagery. However, it is not well investigated how much of an impact aerosols, especially the prevalent anthropogenic fine/ultra-fine/coarse particles, have in image degradation. This thesis explores the contribution of aerosols to image blur but focuses on collecting field data with a relatively large variety of ambient aerosol characterization and optical instrumentation. Field experiments were conducted over six days, correlating aerosol measurements (particle counters and nephelometer) with image quality from a visible camera along a 450m path. Image blur was quantified using the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), …

Atmospheric Characterization For Optical Paths In Lunar Proximity, Patrick D. Carattini

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a novel technique for estimating the Fried seeing parameter (r0) for optical paths around the Moon, where traditional methods fail due to the Moon's intensity. Using image processing, it derives the atmospheric optical transfer function (OTF) by using the Moon's edge as a step-input. A simulation chain validates the approach, achieving r0 estimation within 0.0012 m. Real-world tests confirm accuracy through visual and statistical analysis, offering an effective alternative for atmospheric characterization of optical paths close to the moon.

Anderson Transition For Light In A Three-Dimensional Random Medium, Alexey Yamilov, Hui Cao, Sergey E. Skipetrov

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We study Anderson transition for light in three dimensions by performing large-scale simulations of electromagnetic wave transport in disordered ensembles of perfect-electric-conducting spatially overlapping spheres. A mobility edge that separates diffusive transport and Anderson localization is identified, revealing a sharp transition from diffusion to localization for light. Critical behavior in the vicinity of the mobility edge is well described by a single parameter scaling law. The critical exponent is found to be consistent with the value known for the Anderson transition of the orthogonal universality class. Statistical distribution of total transmission at the mobility edge is described without any fit …

Doping Hybrid Photopolymerisable Glass With Bodipy Photosensitiser: An Efficient Approach To Improve Uv-Resistance, Luca Sorridente, Tatsiana Mikulchyk, Metodej Dvoracek, Mikhail A. Filatov, Izabela Naydenova, Kevin P. Murphy

Conference Papers

The development of photosensitive materials with improved performance and extended functionality is crucial for advancing holographic technologies. This study presents the modification and characterization of a recently reported photopolymerisable glass composition, focusing on achieving an optimal balance between maximizing photosensitivity of the material during recording and minimizing the impact of UV light on the performance of the recorded holographic structure. Building on these findings, the ultimate goal is to develop UV-resistant holographic optical elements for wavefront sensing in space applications. The research approach is based on introducing a photosensitiser with weaker UV absorption than the typically used in this material …

Metasurfaces And Their Applications In Photonic Devices, Shuwei Guo

Dissertations and Theses

Metasurfaces are flat artificial optical elements composed of dielectric and/or metallic nanostructures. They can manipulate light in unprecedented ways by altering amplitude, phase, and polarization at subwavelength scales. The ability of these two-dimensional elements to perform multiple optical functions within compact optical systems—while offering high functionality, small form factors, and easy integration into optoelectronic devices—has sparked significant interest across various fields and industries. These applications span imaging, sensing, nonlinear and quantum optics, optical computing, automotive technology, augmented and virtual reality, and more.

In this dissertation, we explore and design new multifunctional metasurfaces with a focus on manipulating spectral responses. First, …

Photocarrier Dynamics In Dielectric And Metal-Dielectric Nanocatalysts In Ambient And Operando Conditions, Sunil Gyawali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photocatalysis, a promising method for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, relies on sunlight to generate excited charge carriers in catalysts with sufficient lifetimes and mobilities to drive photoreactions. Thin-film semiconductors are essential for reducing charge recombination and enhancing mobility but suffer from a low surface-to-volume ratio problems, resulting in a reduced absorption coefficient and limiting solar-energy-conversion efficiency. Nanostructures address these limitations by enhancing light absorption and surface reactivity. However, efficient photocatalysis also requires that the semiconductor’s band edges align with the redox potential of the desired photoreaction, limiting light absorption to just some of the whole solar spectrum. In hybrid and composite …

High Antarctic Coastal Productivity In Polynyas Revealed By Considering Remote Sensing Ice-Adjacency Effects, Hilde Oliver, Jessica S. Turner, Alexandre Castagna, Henry Houskeeper, Heidi Dierssen

OES Faculty Publications

Ocean color-based estimates of Antarctic net primary productivity (NPP) have indicated low nearshore productivity in ice-adjacent waters, contrasting with coupled physical–biogeochemical models. To understand this discrepancy, we assessed satellite records of polynya NPP by comparing field data with two satellite imagery datasets derived using different processing schemes. Our results indicate historical underestimation of chlorophyll a for imagery obtained using default atmospheric correction processing within approximately 100 km of ice-covered coastlines due to adjacency effects. Using radiative transfer modeling, we find that biases in ocean color polynya observations due to adjacency effects correspond to the high albedo of ice and snow. …

Entangled Photoelectron Attosecond Spectroscopy, Jonathan Sar-Shalom

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In this thesis we propose an interferometric scheme to retrieve the dynamics of an electron wave packet emitted from two distinct residual photo-ion channels in the ionization of an atom by an ultra-short UV pulse. EPAS (Entangled-Photoelectron Attosecond Spectroscopy) works by having a non-overlapping UV and few-cycle IR pulse, where the IR is tuned near the transition frequency between two electronic bound states of the photo-ion. Using a time-dependent simulation based on a two-channel atomic model, supported by a perturbative approach, we were able to compute the resulting interference in the angular distribution of the photoelectron and retrieve the energy-dependent …

Interactions And Applications Of Optical Angular Momentum In Magneto-Optical Material, Seth R. Nelson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation explores the interactions and applications of optical angular momentum within magneto-optical materials. Beginning with a theoretical and experimental analysis of multiple reflection and refraction phenomena within magneto-optical material. We derive and verify the dependence of refractive indices on optical spin angular momentum and magneto-optical magnetization, resulting in nonreciprocal elliptical and linear polarization beam splitting effects and wavevector discretization. We fabricate a magnetless slab waveguide isolator with minimal optical loss. Extending our study to optical orbital angular momentum, we introduce a perturbation to the electronic transition model in bismuth-substituted iron garnets. We demonstrate that this perturbation leads to nonreciprocal …

Linear Response Of Driven Non-Hermitian Photonic Systems, Lucas R. Simonson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The notion of non-Hermitian engineering in optics and photonics has attracted considerable attention in the past decade. From laser devices and sensing applications to light trapping and guiding, non-Hermitian engineering provides additional degrees of freedom that allows for more control over light-matter interaction. It is thus of great importance to develop a deep insight into the linear response of non-Hermitian optical systems. We begin by studying the linear response of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems under general conditions and derive an expression for its Green's operator in terms of its eigenvectors and its canonical Jordan vectors. Next, we investigate the quantum noise …

Modelling The Formation Of Unslanted Holographic Gratings In Hybrid Photopolymer Media, Jack Lyons, Dana Mackey, Izabela Naydenova

Articles

The theoretical modelling of holographic recording in photopolymers has been an important tool in their optimisation. More complex, hybrid organic/inorganic photopolymers have been developed in pursuit of materials with higher sensitivity, low shrinkage, high dynamic range and environmental stability. Recent attempts to augment the existing models for the redistribution of inorganic nanoparticles in holographic recording were successful but there is still a knowledge gap in regards to modelling optical losses, mutual cross-diffusion, the formation of slanted holographic gratings and polymerization induced shrinkage in hybrid photopolymer media. This paper will describe a novel approach to modelling the formation of unslanted holographic …

Highly Sensitive Diffractive Optical Structures For Detection Of Volatile Organic Compounds, Faolan Radford Mcgovern

Doctoral

From aerospace to agriculture, sensors play a fundamental role in many aspects of modern life. Sensors form an integral part of the complex systems and devices required for the continued functioning and development of services and industries across society. The use of sensors is paramount in areas affecting human health, one such area being the monitoring of indoor air quality, in particular the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Human contact with VOCs has been associated with many health complications, including skin and eye irritation, cardiovascular damage, and cancers. Optical, electrical, gravimetric, and chemical sensors have been developed for VOC …

Optical Properties Of Rare Earth Doped Molybdenum Trioxide Thin Films, Jessica Fink

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the optical properties of Dy-doped MoO₃ thin films. MoO₃ is a transition metal oxide that is wide band gap semiconductor. As a transition-metal oxide, it has been widely studied for its tunable properties. However, there is little literature on the subject of Dysprosium doped MoO₃, and none found as of now on thin film Dy-MoO₃ . This indicates that this topic is at best under reported, and thin film Dy-MoO₃ possesses a certain novelty. Unlike most transition metal oxides, undoped MoO₃ has a negligible crystal field splitting. This is due to the electron vacancy of …

Demonstration And Assessment Of Dark Field And Phase X-Ray Computed Tomography, Wadiah Hamed Allahyani

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Conventional computed tomography produces a 2D slice or 3D image from multiple conventional images to avoid overlapping structures and increase visualization of the internal features of the object. A set up, macro controls and processing for computed tomography was created for the Center for X-ray Optics for the first time, and demonstrated in this work. Adding differential phase contrast to conventional x-ray images highlights edges. Two more channels of information, dark field and integrated phase, improve the contrast and increase the signal-to-noise ratios of the image. Combining these channels with computed tomography is an important development. This work is the …

Reconstructing Superoscillations Buried Deeply In Noise, Derek D. White, Shunxing Zhang, Barbara Šoda, Achim Kempf, Daniele C. Struppa, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We utilize a method using frequency combs to construct waves that feature superoscillations—local regions of the wave that exhibit a change in phase that the bandlimits of the wave should not otherwise allow. This method has been shown to create superoscillating regions that mimic any analytic function—even ones well outside the bandlimits—to an arbitrary degree of accuracy. We experimentally demonstrate that these waves are extremely robust against noise, allowing for accurate reconstruction of a superoscillating target function thoroughly buried in noise. We additionally show that such a construction can be easily used to range-resolve a signal well below the commonly …

Ultraviolet And Blue Stimulated Emission From Cs Alkali Vapor Pumped Using Two-Photon Absorption And Four-Wave Mixing, Ricardo C. Davila, Christopher A. Rice, Nathan B. Terry, Glen P. Perram

Faculty Publications

Stimulated emission on the ultraviolet and blue transitions in Cs has been achieved by pumping via two-photon absorption and four-wave mixing for the pump transition 6²S½ → 8²D_3/2,5/2. The emission performance of the optically pumped cesium vapor laser operating in ultraviolet and blue has been extended to 650 nJ/pulse for 387 nm, 1 to 3 μ J / pulse for 388 nm, 200 nJ/pulse for 455 nm, and 500 nJ/pulse for 459 nm. Emission performance improves dramatically as the cesium vapor density is increased, and no scaling limitations associated with energy pooling or …

Characterizing 2d Materials Using Positron Impact Induced Electron Spectroscopy And Development Of A Novel Thin Film Zno Based Piezo-Photonic Detector For Cryogenic And Mems Applications, Pratyanik Sau

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Surface analytical techniques are essential for engineering nano-detectors allowing characterization of their chemical composition, electromechanical properties, and physical structure. In the first chapter, the positron impact-induced secondary electron (PIISE) energy spectra and yield from single-layer graphene (SLG) and multi-layer graphene (MLG) grown on a polycrystalline Cu substrate have been presented. In the second chapter, an extensive catalog of Positron Induced Auger Spectra is presented to aid in the analysis of elemental composition of various materials. Additionally, in the third chapter, a novel detection scheme utilizing the piezo-pyroelectric properties of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) thin films have been demonstrated for its application …

The Use Of Two-Dimensional Detectors For Snapshot And High Accuracy Imaging Ellipsometry, Jeremy A. Vanderslice

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ellipsometry is a powerful and sensitive optical technique used to characterize thin film thickness and optical properties by measuring changes in the polarization state of light upon reflection or transmission. This dissertation investigates novel ellipsometry configurations that use two-dimensional detectors to enhance measurement speed, spatial resolution, or accuracy of ellipsometry measurements. The study involves the development of three different ellipsometry configurations, encompassing mechanical prototypes, mathematical models, and test measurements to evaluate each system.

Advisor: Jeffrey Shield

A Simple And Low-Cost Method For Generating Short Laser Pulses, Daniel Fisher

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A simple, portable method is described and demonstrated for generating short optical pulses (~ 1 μsec) from a continuous wave (CW) source using a rotating pinhole. A CW 633nm HeNe beam was focused onto a 225 μm diameter stainless steel pinhole, which was rotated up to 1000 Hz using an optical chopper wheel. The pulsed light was then focused onto a silicon photodetector and read by an oscilloscope. This novel setup aims to bridge the gap between pulsed laser performance and price for wide application in spectroscopy methods, industrial laser peening, and medical treatments. This will be the first publication …

Improving The Performance Of The Modal Holographic Wavefront Sensor By Adapting To Prevailing Turbulence Conditions: Experimental Verification, Andreas Zepp, Emma Branigan, Kevin Murphy, Szymon Gladysz

Conference Papers

The modal holographic wavefront sensor offers a promising alternative to established wavefront sensing techniques. Since the strengths of individual aberration modes are directly measured, there is no need for time-consuming signal processing and wavefront reconstruction. Bandwidths up to three orders of magnitude higher than those of commercial wavefront sensors can in principle be achieved. However, in practice the accuracy of measurements is compromised by intermodal crosstalk, which arises when the wavefront exhibits additional aberrations to those encoded in the modal wavefront sensor. This issue is particularly prominent when measuring wavefronts disturbed by atmospheric turbulence. To mitigate the effects of intermodal …

Limitations Of Beam-Control Compensation, Matthew Kalensky, Darren Getts, Matthias T. Banet, Derek J. Burrell, Milo W. Hyde, Mark F. Spencer

Faculty Publications

In this paper, we use wave-optics simulations to explore the limitations of beam-control compensation. We evaluate performance in terms of the normalized power in a diffraction-limited bucket for the cases of no beam-control compensation, perfect phase compensation, and perfect full-field compensation. From these results, we are able to arrive at the following conclusions: (1) without any form of beam-control compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r₀ > 1; (2) with perfect phase compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r₀ > 1 and (λ/r₀)/θ₀ > 1; and (3) with perfect full-field compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r_{0 …}

Time Domain Spectral Lidar Enabled By Cascaded Raman In A Hydrogen-Filled Transmitter, Richard K. Martin, Trevor L. Courtney, Arielle M. Adams, Daniel E. Leaird, Luke Ausley, Christian K. Keyser

Faculty Publications

We introduce what we believe to be novel spectral light detection and ranging (LiDAR) architectures that enable ultra-compact systems by a transition from spectral signal processing in space (gratings) to processing in time. The architectures leverage temporal dispersion and the unique spectro-temporal waveforms produced from the cascaded Raman scattering generated in the (H₂) filled hollow core fiber. The characterized Raman source yields as many as six Raman orders from 1.06-1.70 μm; their unique spectro-temporal waveforms are measured. System performance simulations based on measured Raman waveforms show that high accuracy measurement of range and reflectivity are possible with proper …

Noncontact Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy Of Synovial Fluid Samples For Rapid Identification Of Infections, Erin E. Drewke, Robert L. Brand, Caroline G. Geels, Hanna K. Jensen, Kevin Wong, Jarret D. Sanders, Narasimhan Rajaram

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Severe joint infections, such as septic arthritis, require rapid diagnostic testing of the synovial fluid aspirated from joints level so that a surgical team can be assembled quickly. We present a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) system for noncontact determination of infection. Using a light-tight syringe holder and fiber optic probe, diffusely reflected light from 475 to 655 nm was acquired from 18 patient samples through the wall of a syringe in a noncontact and sterile manner. We determined the reflectance ratios at two different wavelengths—R ₄₉₀/R ₆₀₀ and R ₅₈₀/R ₆₀₀ and found statistically significant …