Optics Commons^™

Fabrication Of Objectives For Imaging Ultracold Lithium, Danelle Akanova

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis develops a documented, reproducible procedure for building diffraction-limited microscope objectives entirely from catalog singlets, for imaging ultracold 6Li atoms in a ring-trap experiment. The objectives must resolve micron-scale features through a 5 mm fused-silica vacuum window, operate at multiple wavelengths, fit inside a 48 mm magnet bore, and contain no conductive or magnetic material, because the surrounding coils switch 0.1 T fields on microsecond timescales. Commercial long-working-distance objectives are universally housed in metal, which the eddy-current constraint rules out, and custom fabrication of a suitable non-conductive matched pair is estimated at nearly $200k.

The procedure is developed and …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Carbon Quantum Dots And Gold Nanoparticles For Norovirus Biosensing Applications In Water Systems, Breanne Evans

Master's Theses

Rapid, reliable detection of viral pathogens remains a significant challenge across water-treatment and environmental monitoring systems, including drinking-water, wastewater, water reuse, and environmental surveillance applications. Waterborne viral contamination can pose substantial public-health risks, making early detection essential for protecting water quality and responding quickly to treatment failures or contamination events. Direct potable reuse (DPR) is one particularly demanding example because it requires continuous verification of treatment performance and the broader need for rapid virus monitoring extends across many water-treatment and environmental surveillance applications. Norovirus is a priority target because of its widespread occurrence in wastewater, environmental persistence, and exceptionally low …

Developing A High-Resolution Off-Axis Common-Mode Digital Holographic Microscope, Lucy Cook

University Honors Theses

Off-axis digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is a powerful tool for 3D, non-invasive live-cell tracking without moving parts. However, traditional setups face an inherent dilemma: split-path interferometers offer high spatial resolution but poor temporal stability, while more stable common-mode configurations are historically limited to lower numerical aperture (NA) regimes. This thesis bridges that gap by scaling a common-mode DHM architecture into a high-resolution benchtop instrument featuring NA = 0.65 objectives, paired with a high-power 520 nm laser source to combat transmission losses and sustain imaging frame rates across an expanded optical footprint. We map the multi-variable design space required to satisfy …

Creating A Floating Volumetric Display, Joy Skaggs, Hope Skinner

ATU Scholars Symposium

The public has long been interested in futuristic technology, especially ‘holograms’ and their possibilities, evidenced by pop culture icons such as Iron Man and the popularity of the Sci-Fi Genre. The popular term ‘hologram’ actually describes the phenomenon of a volumetric display, where light is directed to form 3D forms in the air. Attempts to create these volumetric displays began as early as 1988 with creators like Gregg Favelora and Alan Sullivan. As technology improved, so too did the ability to make the futuristic ‘hologram’ a reality.

Another common form of these interactive holograms is the floating display, which may …

Physics-Informed Neural Network Solution Of The 2d Helmholtz Equation With A Gaussian Source, Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos, Chris Velissaris, Aristotelis Nikolaos Rapsomanikis

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We present a physics-informed neural network (PINN) framework for solving the complex-valued two-dimensional Helmholtz equation with a localized Gaussian source and spatially varying permittivity. Starting from Maxwell’s equations, the frequency-domain scalar Helmholtz formulation under transverse electric (TE) polarization is derived and enforced directly within the neural network loss function. The model employs a sinusoidal representation network (SIREN) architecture to capture the oscillatory nature of wave solutions and incorporates the Sommerfeld radiation condition to impose open boundary conditions. Training is performed using a hybrid collocation strategy combined with a two-stage optimization procedure consisting of Adam followed by L-BFGS. Numerical experiments in …

Assembly And Testing Of A De-202 Closed-Cycle Cryostat, Chris Maguire

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Closed-cycle cryostats, such as the Advanced Research Systems DE-202 model are commonly used in laboratories as they provide long-term, low-cost, low-maintenance operation. We will outline the assembly, testing processes, and benchmarking experiments associated with the setup of this instrumental accessory. Further, a technical manual was written for future students and faculty in undergraduate research. Assembly involved constructing a custom frame, and integrating vacuum, water, gas, and electrical systems. Testing confirmed the system did not leak gas. Thermal response was recorded during cooling and heating phases to verify functionality; a base temperature of 7.5 K was achieved in 65 minutes, surpassing …

Building The Erau Solar Telescope: Advancing Heliophysics Research And Education Through Optical Innovation, Erin Abraham, Sarah Hoover, Skylar G. Butler, Margret Stanley, Gwynlyn Hannah

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The new Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Solar Telescope represents a campus-wide collaboration to design and install a high-resolution solar observatory. The ERAU solar telescope, aiming for first light by Summer 2026, will integrate research-grade instrumentation, student training opportunities, and expand public engagement with the ERAU observatory. The telescope is housed within a 2.3-meter refurbished dome structure whose electrical and structural systems are being upgraded to support automated dome rotation and environmental stabilization. The optical design features a multi-element lens and mirror assembly optimized for a 1° field of view. The optical assembly includes a downport centered in the dome that …

Satellite-Mediated Quantum Clock Synchronization: Towards Precise Timing At A Global Scale, Sage B. Ducoing

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Accurate timekeeping is essential for scientific and technological advancements, particularly in areas of communication, networking, navigation, and high precision measurements. While many methods of time resolution are already established using classical resources, they fail to combine high precision outcomes with large-scale implementations. Additionally, numerous quantum networking architectures using satellite-assisted methods have demonstrated quantum communication on scales exceeding ground-based methods. For these reasons, we propose the use of a time synchronization method by which pairs of highly time-correlated photons are exchanged between clocks on satellites and clocks on Earth, al- lowing users to reconstruct the time offsets between their clocks. This …

Low-Cost Cutaneous Protoporphyrin Ix (Ppix) Detection (Cpd) Device For Follow-Up Monitoring Of Patients After Photodynamic Therapy, Md Asaduzzaman Rasel

Graduate Masters Theses

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to activate photosensitizing chemical compounds, known as photosensitizers, which induce the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the targeted destruction of cancer cells. Among various photosensitizers for PDT, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is widely employed in oncology and dermatology due to its natural in situ generation via the metabolic conversion of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a non-phototoxic prodrug. Systemic administration of ALA after 3-6 hr drug delay leads to peak PpIX accumulation in tissues, facilitating therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, PpIX can persist in the skin for 24–48 hours post-treatment, …

Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes As A Light Source For Photodynamic Therapy, Hamid El Hamidi

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT:

QUANTUM DOT LIGHT EMITTING DIODES AS A LIGHT SOURCE FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Photodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment modality that involves the accumulation of a photosensitizer, exposure to visible light, and the presence of oxygen, resulting in the formation of highly reactive and cytotoxic singlet oxygen. PDT has been shown to be more effective as the fluence rate decreases due to oxygen availability and the absence of photobleaching. On the other hand, Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes QLEDs- a new form of light source based on nanoparticles (quantum dots)- emerge as a potentially advantageous light source for certain types …

Phase Nanoscopy With Correlated Frequency Combs, Xiaobing Zhu

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this dissertation a sensing method applying to any physical quantity that modifies optical phase is developed. Two pulses are produced inside a synchronously pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator, generating two identical, undistinguishable frequency combs. The physical quantity to be measured applies a small phase shift/round trip to one of the pulses, resulting in a frequency shift of the corresponding comb. The latter frequency is measured as a beat by interfering the two combs on a detector. A world record resolution, close to the quantum limit, of 0.033 nanoradian (corresponding to 0.006 fm in displacement) is achieved. A detailed analysis of …

Power-Beaming: Wireless Energy Transfer Using Lasers, Spencer L. Barnett

ATU Scholars Symposium

The objective of the project is to implement a wireless energy transfer system utilizing laser technology. This system involves modulating the laser’s beam profile and spatial distribution through precise optical manipulation. The energy transmitted by the laser is captured by a photovoltaic array, commonly referred to as a solar panel, which is engineered to convert incident photons into direct current (DC) electrical power. The current challenge is to develop a reliable wireless energy transfer mechanism capable of operating over extended distances, thereby overcoming the constraints imposed by wired connections, particularly in environments where wiring is impractical, such as in space. …

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), …

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 …

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 …

Super-Resolution Magnetic Microscopy And Earth’S Field Magnetometry With Color Centers In Diamond, Nazanin Mosavian

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In recent years, the negatively charged nitrogen- vacancy (NV) center has emerged as a promising solid-state color center capable of measuring magnetic fields with high sensi- tivity and spatial resolution under ambient conditions. In this thesis I will discuss how we perform super resolution magnetic microscopy and acquire magnetic field images of nanoparticle samples at 100 nm resolution. I will explain how 3D flux concentrators increase magnetic field amplitude and allows us to measure vector component magnetic fields as low as 50 µT with a diamond magnetometer, without the use of an additional bias magnetic field. I also describe how …

Electromagnetic Theory And Applications, 2nd Edition, Nicholas Madamopoulos, George Kliros

Open Educational Resources

This book intends to provide both the fundamentals of Electromagnetics but also some practical applications of the concepts covered. Having taught electromagnetics for several years, the authors feel that many times the field of electromagnetics comes as “old” and often times students do not appreciate the concepts and their importance in everyday applications. The authors intend to accompany the EM concepts with life applications. Hence, students may see the direct impact of the knowledge they acquire through the study of the field of electromagnetics and better appreciate the field.

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Zirconium (Zr) Thin Film On Si(100) Via Pulsed Laser Deposition, Zikrulloh Khuzhakulov

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of zirconium (Zr) thin films deposited on Si(100) substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The effects of two laser wavelengths (1064 nm and 532 nm), various substrate temperatures (25 °C, 300 °C, and 500 °C), and different laser fluences (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 J/cm²) on the properties of the Zr films were examined. Results indicated that smoother films were achieved with the 1064 nm wavelength, while surface roughness increased with higher fluences. Optimal crystalline films were obtained at a substrate temperature of 300 °C for both wavelengths. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), …

Numerical Simulation Of Laser Induced Elastic Waves In Response To Short And Ultrashort Laser Pulses., Alireza Zarei

All Dissertations

In an era of intensified market competition, the demand for cost-effective, high-quality, high-performance, and reliable products continues to rise. Meeting this demand necessitates the mass production of premium products through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials while ensuring their integrity and safety. In this context, Nondestructive Testing (NDT) techniques emerge as indispensable tools for guaranteeing the integrity, reliability, and safety of products across diverse industries.

Various NDT techniques, including ultrasonic testing, computed tomography, thermography, and acoustic emissions, have long served as cornerstones for inspecting materials and structures. Among these, ultrasonic testing stands out as the most prevalent method, …

Robust Zero Modes In Non-Hermitian Systems Without Global Symmetries, Jose D. H. Rivero, Courtney Fleming, Bingkun Qi, Liang Feng, Li Ge

Publications and Research

We present an approach to achieve zero modes in lattice models that do not rely on any symmetry or topology of the bulk, which are robust against disorder in the bulk of any type and strength. Such symmetry-free zero modes (SFZMs) are formed by attaching a single site or small cluster with zero mode(s) to the bulk, which serves as the “nucleus” that expands to the entire lattice. We identify the requirements on the couplings between this boundary and the bulk, which reveals that this approach is intrinsically non-Hermitian. We then provide several examples with either an arbitrary or structured …

Non-Hermitian Gauged Laser Arrays With Localized Excitations: Anomalous Threshold And Generalized Principle Of Selective Pumping, Li Ge, Zihe Gao, Liang Feng

Publications and Research

We investigate non-Hermitian skin modes in laser arrays with spatially localized excitation. Intriguingly, we observe an unusual threshold behavior when selectively pumping either the head or the tail of these modes: both cases exhibit the same lasing threshold and hence defy the conventional principle of selective pumping, which aims to maximize the overlap between the pump profile and the target lasing mode. To shed light on this enigma, we reveal a previously overlooked phenomenon, i.e., energy exchange at non-Hermitian coupling junctions with the photonic environment, which does not occur with uniform gain or loss. Utilizing a transfer matrix approach, we …

Tardys Quantifiers: Extracting Temporal And Reversible Dynamical Symmetries, Nhat Vu Minh Nguyen, Arjendu K. Pattanayak, Andres Aragoneses

2023 Symposium

One of the great challenges in complex and chaotic dynamics is to reveal the details of its underlying determinism. This can be manifest in the form of temporal correlations or structured patterns in the dynamics of a measurable variable. These temporal dynamical structures are sometimes a consequence of hidden global symmetries. Here we identify the temporal (approximate) symmetries of a semiconductor laser with external optical feedback, based on which we define the Temporal And Reversible DYnamical Symmetry (TARDYS) quantifiers to evaluate the relevance of specific temporal correlations in a time series. We show that these symmetries are also present in …

Modeling, Simulation And Control Of Microrobots For The Microfactory., Zhong Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Future assembly technologies will involve higher levels of automation in order to satisfy increased microscale or nanoscale precision requirements. Traditionally, assembly using a top-down robotic approach has been well-studied and applied to the microelectronics and MEMS industries, but less so in nanotechnology. With the boom of nanotechnology since the 1990s, newly designed products with new materials, coatings, and nanoparticles are gradually entering everyone’s lives, while the industry has grown into a billion-dollar volume worldwide. Traditionally, nanotechnology products are assembled using bottom-up methods, such as self-assembly, rather than top-down robotic assembly. This is due to considerations of volume handling of large …

Investigating Properties Of Commercially Available Ir Detector Technology, Ethan Taylor

ATU Scholars Symposium

With the ability to transcode valuable information from light emitting objects, infrared (IR) detector technology has begun to find recreational use in the form of non-contact thermometers and home insulation tools. Research and industry have long been using IR technology in the form of high-altitude balloons, CubeSats, and UAV cameras, but the technology remains a niche market, and thus, a burdensome financial investment. As such, given general consumer products recently introduced as more economically viable, we sought to design an affordable IR camera capable of effective and meaningful data collection. To do so, we utilized a Raspberry Pi 4 and …

Topological Shadow Of Higher-Order Topological Phases And Non-Hermitian Phases Protected By Generalized Rotational Symmetry, Kai Chen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Topological phenomena in condensed matter physics have been investigated intensively in the past decades since the discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE). For the IQHE, the energy band can be characterized by its topological invariants (Chern number or TKNN invariant), which relates to the quantized Hall conductance directly. Later, this expression was recognized as the first Chern class of a U(1) principal fiber bundle on a torus, where the fibers and torus correspond respectively to the magnetic Bloch waves and the magnetic Brillouin zone. And then, the discoveries of time-reversal symmetric topological insulators in two and three dimensions …

Annual Faculty Research Symposium 2022, Oakwood University

Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Enhanced Study Of Complex Systems By Unveiling Hidden Symmetries With Dynamical Visibility, Nhat Vu Minh Nguyen

2022 Symposium

One of the great challenges in complex and chaotic dynamics is to reveal its deterministic structures. These temporal dynamical structures are sometimes a consequence of hidden symmetries. Detecting and understanding them can allow the study of complex systems even without knowing the full underlying mathematical description of the system. Here we introduce a new technique, called Dynamical Visibility, that quantifies temporal correlations of the dynamics based upon some symmetry conditions. This visibility measures the departure of the dynamics from internal symmetries. We apply this technique to well-known chaotic systems, such as the logistic map and the circle map, as well …

Structural, Electrical And Optical Properties Of Copper Oxide Phase Mixture: An Active Layer Of Solar Cell, Rifat Ara Shams

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Both CuO and Cu2O have been well studied and implemented individually as an active layer of a solar cell from early age of manufacturing. A mixture of these two-phase contents at different ratios can bring variance in absorbance which can present new and diverse aspect in solar cell fabrication with added efficiency. Previous works were successful to vary the phase mixture, and the nanostructures provided very high absorption co-efficient but poor optical response on electrical conductivity. The goal of this research is to find out the optimum parameter for the phase mixture of copper oxide with high absorption coefficient as …

Intracavity Phase Interferometry Based Fiber Sensors, Luke Jameson Horstman

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Intracavity Phase Interferometry (IPI) is a detection technique that exploits the inherent sensitivity of a laser's frequency to the parameters of its cavity. Intracavity interferometry is orders of magnitude more sensitive than its extracavity alternatives. This dissertation improves on previous free-space proof-of-concept designs. By implementing the technique in fiber optics, using optical parametric oscillation, and investigating non-Hermitian quantum mechanics and dispersion tailoring enhancement techniques, IPI has become more applicable and sensitive. Ring and linear IPI configurations were realized in this work, both operating as bidirectional fiber optical parametric oscillators. The benefit of using externally pumped synchronous optical parametric oscillation is …

Photoluminescence Spectra Of Silicon Doped With Cadmium, N A. Sultanov, E T. Rakhimov, Z Mirzajonov, F T. Yusupov

Scientific-technical journal

Cadmium and zinc, as transition metals, are deep-level impurities (DL) and have a significant effect on the electrical, photoelectric, recombination, and other properties of semiconductor crystals.This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the optical and electrical properties of silicon crystals containing impurity atoms of cadmium and zinc using DLTS and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL).