Cheng-Shan Guo

Generation of arbitrary vector beams with a spatial light modulator and a common path interferometric arrangement

We describe a convenient approach for generating arbitrary vector beams in a 4-f system with a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a common path interferometric arrangement. A computer-generated hologram is introduced onto SLM for performing the beam conversion. Optical realization of a variety of polarization configurations confirms the reliability and flexibility of our method.

A new type of vector fields with hybrid states of polarization

We present an idea based on Poincaré sphere and demonstrate the creation of a new type of vector fields, which have hybrid states of polarization. Such a type of hybridly polarized vector fields have completely different property from the reported scalar and vector fields. The novel vector fields are anticipated to result in new effects, phenomena, and applications.

Phase-shifting error and its elimination in phase-shifting digital holography

We investigate the influence of phase-shifting error on the quality of the reconstructed image in digital holography and propose a method of error elimination for a perfect image. In this method the summation of the intensity bit errors of the reconstructed image is taken as an evaluation function for an iterative algorithm to find the exact phase-shifting value. The feasibility of this method is demonstrated by computer simulation.

Radial Hilbert transform with Laguerre-Gaussian spatial filters

We analyze the point spread function (PSF) of the image processing system for radial Hilbert transform and propose a novel spiral phase filter, called the Laguerre-Gaussian spatial filter (LGSF). Theoretical analysis and real experiments show that the LGSF possesses some advantages in comparison with the conventional spiral phase plate (SPP). For example, the PSF of the imaging system with a LGSF presents smaller suboscillations than that with the conventional SPP, which allows us to realize a radial Hilbert transform for achieving a high contrast edge enhancement with high resolution.

Characterizing topological charge of optical vortices by using an annular aperture

We explore the spatial frequency property of the far-field diffraction intensity pattern of an optical vortex after passing through an annular aperture in detail. The result reveals that the spatial spectrum consists of alternate bright and dark rings and, in particular, the number of the bright rings is nicely identical to the absolute value of the topological charge. Based on this property, we present and demonstrate a simple technique to characterize the topological charge of an optical vortex through its diffraction intensity pattern after an annular aperture.

Two-dimensional wave-front reconstruction from lateral shearing interferograms.

An algorithm is proposed to reconstruct two-dimensional wave-front from phase differences measured by lateral shearing interferometer. Two one-dimensional phase profiles of object wave-front are computed using Fourier transform from phase differences, and then the two-dimensional wave-front distribution is retrieved by use of least-square fitting. The algorithm allows large shear amount and works fast based on fast Fourier transform. Investigations into reconstruction accuracy and reliability are carried out by numerical experiments, in which effects of different shear amounts and noises on reconstruction accuracy are evaluated. Optical measurement is made in a lateral shearing interferometer based on double-grating.

Generation of arbitrary vector beams with cascaded liquid crystal spatial light modulators

A flexible approach is presented to generate vector beams with arbitrary polarization and complex amplitude by means of two cascaded transmissive liquid crystal spatial light modulators (LCSLMs). The configuration of the cascaded LCSLM system and its modulation characteristic are introduced. Theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration prove that the system in combination with a double-pass computer-generated hologram and a black-and-white pattern can generate vector beams with arbitrary polarization and complex amplitude by respectively controlling the complex amplitudes of two orthogonal polarization components of the beams. Using this system, we successfully generate radially polarized vector beams with helical phase distributions and vector Bessel beams with inhomogeneous amplitude distributions in experiments.

Effect of the fill factor of CCD pixels on digital holograms: comment on the papers

In digital holography, holograms are digitally recorded by a CCD camera and stored in a computer’s memory. The reconstruction of the recorded wave field from the digitally stored hologram is realized numerically by the computer.123 This technique has found numerous applications, especially in 3-D microscopy,45 encryption,6 pattern recognition,7 and surface contouring.8 The process of digital holography by recording an interference pattern with a CCD array, and storing it in a computer to numerically reconstructing it can be interpreted as a coherent optical imaging system, which can be analyzed by Fourier optics and can be characterized by a point spread function (PSF). Such an analysis has been reported in recent publications written by Kreis.910 In this work, we indicate some shortages in Kreis’ analysis. At the same time we describe our new treatment and some new analytical results.

Optimal annular computer-generated holograms for the generation of optical vortices

We analyze a method for efficiently generating optical vortices by use of annular computer-generated holograms and a spatial light modulator. We found that there exists an optimal annular width by which the reconstructed vortex ring in the focal plane has the steepest gradient and the worthless subbright rings can be largely suppressed. We fitted a general formula for determining the value of this optimal annular width and propose a method for designing a multiring structure of optical vortices and specialized interferometric vortex patterns. Finally, we discuss the situation of a Gaussian beam as illuminated light and find that there exists an optimal beam waist that results in the best energy efficiency.

Phase-shifting with computer-generated holograms written on a spatial light modulator

We propose a new computer-controlled phase-shifting method based on computer-generated holograms (CGHs) displayed on a spatial light modulator (SLM). In this method the accurate phase shifts required in phase-shifting digital holography or interferometry are induced by a suitable transformation of the encoding patterns of the CGH displayed on a SLM. Both the theoretical analysis and the experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. We also discuss possible applications of this method in the field of interferometric null testing of aspheres.