Jheng-Syong Wu

Determination of retardation parameters of multiple-order wave plate using a phase-sensitive heterodyne ellipsometer

To characterize the linear birefringence of a multiple-order wave plate (MWP), an oblique incidence is one of the methods available. Multiple reflections in the MWP are produced, and oscillations in the phase retardation measurement versus the oblique incident angle are then measured. Therefore, an antireflection coated MWP is required to avoid oscillation of the phase retardation measurement. In this study, we set up a phase-sensitive heterodyne ellipsometer to measure the phase retardations of an uncoated MWP versus the oblique incident angle, which was scanned in the x-z plane and y-z plane independently. Thus, the effect on multiple reflections by the MWP is reduced by means of subtracting the two measured phase retardations from each other. As a result, a highly sensitive and accurate measurement of retardation parameters (RPs), which includes the refractive indices of the extraordinary ray n(e) and ordinary ray n(o), is obtained by this method. On measurement, a sensitivity (n(e),n(o)) of 10(-6) was achieved by this experiment setup. At the same time, the spatial shifting of the P and S waves emerging from the MWP introduced a deviation between experimental results and the theoretical calculation.

Dual-frequency heterodyne ellipsometer for characterizing generalized elliptically birefringent media

This research proposed a dual-frequency heterodyne ellipsometer (DHE) in which a dual-frequency collinearly polarized laser beam with equal amplitude and zero phase difference between p- and s-polarizations is setup. It is based on the polarizer-sample-analyzer, PSA configuration of the conventional ellipsometer. DHE enables to characterize a generalized elliptical phase retarder by treating it as the combination of a linear phase retarder and a polarization rotator. The method for measuring elliptical birefringence of an elliptical phase retarder based on the equivalence theorem of an unitary optical system was derived and the experimental verification by use of DHE was demonstrated too. The experimental results show the capability of DHE on characterization of a generalized phase retardation plate accurately.

Differential phase decoder in a polarized optical heterodyne interferometer.

A differential-phase decoder (DPD) together with a polarization common-path optical heterodyne interferometer is set up. Based on this interferometric configuration and a novel balanced-detector scheme, the performance of the quantum-noise-limited differential-phase decoder is demonstrated and analyzed. The minimum-detectable differential phase is on the order of 10(-7) rad/sqrt Hz when a 2.5 mW He-Ne laser is used. Verified experimentally, the DPD is immune to the common-phase noise induced by an electro-optic phase modulator or by thermal disturbance within the interferometer. This signifies that the minimum-detectable differential phase can become 10(-8) rad/sqrt Hz if a 300 mW continuous wave laser is employed instead.

POLARIZATION-SENSITIVE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY USING A MODIFIED BALANCE DETECTOR

In conventional polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), phase retardation is obtained by the amplitude of P and S polarization only, and the fast axis angle is obtained by the phase difference in P and S polarizations via Hilbert transformation. In this paper, we proposed a modified PS-OCT setup in which the phase retardation and fast axis angle are simply expressed as the function of the amplitude of P and S polarization and their differential signal. Due to the common-path feature between the two channels of P and S polarization, the fluctuation in the measurement of phase retardation and fast axis angle caused by excess noise and phase noise from the laser source can be reduced by the differential signal of P and S polarization via a modified balance detector. Thus, the signal of phase retardation and fast angle axis in the deep layer of a porcine sample can be improved.

Degrees of polarization and coherence of paired linear polarized laser beam by scattering glass plates measured using optical coherent ellipsometer

An accurate optical coherent ellipsometer (OCE) is proposed and setup in which a two-frequency paired linear polarized laser beam is integrated with a common-path heterodyne interferometer. This OCE is able to precisely measure the optical properties of scattering specimen by measuring ellipsometric parameters (Psi, Delta). In the mean time the degree of polarization P, and degree of coherence Chi of incident two-frequency linear polarized laser beam are measured too. In the experiment, both smooth and ground BK7 glass plates were tested in which the optical parameters (Psi, Delta, P, Chi ) were obtained precisely. Comparing with conventional ellipsometers, OCE can characterize scattering specimen precisely and excludes the scattering effect.

Angular distribution of polarized photon-pairs in a scattering medium with a Zeeman laser scanning confocal microscope.

A novel confocal microscope designed for use with turbid media is proposed. We use a Zeeman laser as the light source. Based on the properties of two‐frequency polarized photon‐pairs and the common‐path feature of polarized photon‐pairs with heterodyne detection employed in the proposed confocal microscope, three gatings (spatial filtering gating, polarization gating and spatial coherence gating) are thus simultaneously incorporated in the microscope. Experimental results for the angular distribution of polarized photon‐pairs in a scattering medium indicate that polarization gating and spatial coherence gating preclude the detection of multiply scattered photons, whereas the pinhole selects the least scattered photon‐pairs. Thus, better performance for axial resolution than can be obtained with a conventional confocal microscope is demonstrated experimentally. In addition, the proposed microscope is able to either look deeper into a turbid medium or work with a denser medium; furthermore, the axial resolution is improved.

Zeeman laser scanning confocal microscope and its ability on reduction of specimen-induced spherical aberration

The spherical aberration induced by refractive-index mismatch results in the degradation on the quality of sectioning images in conventional confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). In this research, we have derived the theory of image formation in a Zeeman laser scanning confocal microscope (ZLSCM) and conducted experiments in order to verify the ability of reducing spherical aberration in ZLSCM. A Zeeman laser is used as the light source and produces the linearly polarized photon-pairs (LPPP) laser beam. With the features of common-path propagation of LPPP and optical heterodyne detection, ZLSCM shows the ability of reducing the specimen-induced spherical aberration and improving the axial resolution simultaneously.

Measurement of diffuse photon-pairs density wave in a multiple-scattering medium

As a continuation of the previously developed theory of a diffuse photon-pairs density wave (DPPDW) [Appl. Opt.44, 1416-1425 (2005)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.44.001416], this research experimentally studies and verifies the DPPDW theory in a heterogeneous multiple-scattering medium. The DPPDW is generated by collecting the scattered linear polarized photon pairs (LPPPs) in the multiple-scattering medium. Theoretically, the common-path propagation of LPPPs not only provides common phase noise rejection mode but also performs coherence technique via heterodyne detection. In addition, the polarization gating and spatial coherence gating of LPPPs would suppress the severe scattered photon in the multiple-scattering medium. In the experiment, the amplitude and phase wavefronts of DPPDWs, which are distorted by a small object embedded in a homogeneous multiple-scattering medium, are measured in one dimension or two dimensions by scanning the source detector pair. The measured distortion of DPPDW wavefronts are detected precisely and are consistent with the theoretical calculation of DPPDW. It implies an improvement on the detection sensitivity of a small object compared with the conventional diffuse photon density wave (DPDW).

Glucose detection in a highly scattering medium with diffuse photon-pair density wave

We propose a novel optical method for glucose measurement based on diffuse photon-pair density wave (DPPDW) in a multiple scattering medium (MSM) where the light scattering of photon-pair is induced by refractive index mismatch between scatters and phantom solution. Experimentally, the DPPDW propagates in MSM via a two-frequency laser (TFL) beam wherein highly correlated pairs of linear polarized photons are generated. The reduced scattering coefficient μ2s′ and absorption coefficient μ2a of DPPDW are measured simultaneously in terms of the amplitude and phase measurements of the detected heterodyne signal under arrangement at different distances between the source and detection fibers in MSM. The results show that the sensitivity of glucose detection via glucose-induced change of reduced scattering coefficient (δμ2s′) is 0.049%mM−1 in a 1% intralipid solution. In addition, the linear range of δμ2s′ vs glucose concentration implies that this DPPDW method can be used to monitor glucose concentration continuously and noninvasively subcutaneously.

Two-Dimensional Distributions of Five Cell Parameters of Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Device by Numerical Photometric Ellipsometer

A novel numerical photometric ellipsometer (NPE) under the condition of normal incidence and using a single wavelength laser beam is proposed wherein a continuously rotated quarter wave plate (QWP) at constant speed is required. To precisely measure the cell parameters of a twisted nematic liquid crystal device (TNLCD), the calibration of the QWP is necessary before measurement in this method. All five cell parameters of the TNLCD, namely, twisted angle, cell gap, rubbing angle, pretilt angle, and phase retardation, are obtained by least-square fitting of the measurement data versus the rotation angle of the QWP with the calculated intensity ratio of p- and s-polarization components according to our previously developed theory. The NPE can be extended to the two-dimensional distributions of all five cell parameters by using charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras. Experimentally, the results demonstrate the ability of the NPE to characterize the five cell parameters of the TNLCD in two dimensions with high accuracy and good repeatability.