Mario Montes-Usategui

Vulnerability to chosen-cyphertext attacks of optical encryption schemes based on double random phase keys

We show how optical encryption methods based on double random phase keys are vulnerable to an organized attack of the chosen-ciphertext type. The decryption key can be easily obtained by an opponent who has repeated access to either the encryption or decryption machines. However, we have also devised a solution that prevents the attack. Our results cast doubts on the present security of these techniques.

Fast generation of holographic optical tweezers by random mask encoding of Fourier components

The random mask encoding technique of multiplexing phase-only filters can be easily adapted to the generation of holographic optical tweezers. The result is a direct, non-iterative and extremely fast algorithm that can be used for computing arbitrary arrays of optical traps. Additional benefits include the possibility of modifying any existing hologram to quickly add more trapping sites and the inexistence of ghost traps or replicas.

Design strategies for optimizing holographic optical tweezers set-ups

We provide a detailed account of the construction of a system of holographic optical tweezers. While a lot of information is available on the design, alignment and calibration of other optical trapping configurations, those based on holography are relatively poorly described. Inclusion of a spatial light modulator in the set-up gives rise to particular design trade-offs and constraints, and the system benefits from specific optimization strategies, which we discuss.

Optimized back-focal-plane interferometry directly measures forces of optically trapped particles

Back-focal-plane interferometry is used to measure displacements of optically trapped samples with very high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the technique is closely related to a method that measures the rate of change in light momentum. It has long been known that displacements of the interference pattern at the back focal plane may be used to track the optical force directly, provided that a considerable fraction of the light is effectively monitored. Nonetheless, the practical application of this idea has been limited to counter-propagating, low-aperture beams where the accurate momentum measurements are possible. Here, we experimentally show that the connection can be extended to single-beam optical traps. In particular, we show that, in a gradient trap, the calibration product κ · β (where κ is the trap stiffness and 1/β is the position sensitivity) corresponds to the factor that converts detector signals into momentum changes; this factor is uniquely determined by three construction features of the detection instrument and does not depend, therefore, on the specific conditions of the experiment. Then, we find that force measurements obtained from back-focal-plane displacements are in practice not restricted to a linear relationship with position and hence they can be extended outside that regime. Finally, and more importantly, we show that these properties are still recognizable even when the system is not fully optimized for light collection. These results should enable a more general use of back-focal-plane interferometry whenever the ultimate goal is the measurement of the forces exerted by an optical trap.

A force detection technique for single-beam optical traps based on direct measurement of light momentum changes

Despite the tremendous success of force-measuring optical traps in recent years, the calibration methods most commonly used in the field have been plagued with difficulties and limitations. Force sensing based on direct measurement of light momentum changes stands out among these as an exception. Especially significant is this methods potential for working within living cells, with non-spherical particles or with non-Gaussian beams. However, so far, the technique has only been implemented in counter-propagating dual-beam traps, which are difficult to align and integrate with other microscopy techniques. Here, we show the feasibility of a single-beam gradient-trap system working with a force detection technique based on this same principle.

Computation of arbitrarily constrained synthetic discriminant functions

An algorithm for computing correlation filters based on synthetic discriminant functions that can be displayed on current spatial light modulators is presented. The procedure is nondivergent, computationally feasible, and capable of producing multiple solutions, thus overcoming some of the pitfalls of previous methods.

Automated self-alignment procedure for optical correlators

We propose a general and fully automated procedure that enables the self-correction of the errors and performance losses produced by the misalignment of the components of an optical correlator. This method is simple, is carried out entirely by software, and has minimal operating constraints. There are no moving parts and no extra hardware is required.

Positional stability of holographic optical traps

The potential of digital holography for complex manipulation of micron-sized particles with optical tweezers has been clearly demonstrated. By contrast, its use in quantitative experiments has been rather limited, partly due to fluctuations introduced by the spatial light modulator (SLM) that displays the kinoforms. This is an important issue when high temporal or spatial stability is a concern. We have investigated the performance of both an analog-addressed and a digitally-addressed SLM, measuring the phase fluctuations of the modulated beam and evaluating the resulting positional stability of a holographic trap. We show that, despite imparting a more unstable modulation to the wavefront, our digitally-addressed SLM generates optical traps in the sample plane stable enough for most applications. We further show that traps produced by the analog-addressed SLM exhibit a superior pointing stability, better than 1 nm, which is comparable to that of non-holographic tweezers. These results suggest a means to implement precision force measurement experiments with holographic optical tweezers (HOTs).

Adding functionalities to precomputed holograms with random mask multiplexing in holographic optical tweezers

In this study, we present a method designed to generate dynamic holograms in holographic optical tweezers. The approach combines our random mask encoding method with iterative high-efficiency algorithms. This hybrid method can be used to dynamically modify precalculated holograms, giving them new functionalities-temporarily or permanently-with a low computational cost. This allows the easy addition or removal of a single trap or the independent control of groups of traps for manipulating a variety of rigid structures in real time.

HoloTrap: Interactive hologram design for multiple dynamic optical trapping

Abstract This work presents an application that generates real-time holograms to be displayed on a holographic optical tweezers setup; a technique that allows the manipulation of particles in the range from micrometres to nanometres. The software is written in Java, and uses random binary masks to generate the holograms. It allows customization of several parameters that are dependent on the experimental setup, such as the specific characteristics of the device displaying the hologram, or the presence of aberrations. We evaluate the softwares performance and conclude that real-time interaction is achieved. We give our experimental results from manipulating 5 μm microspheres using the program. Program summary Title of program: HoloTrap Catalogue identifier:ADZB_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADZB_v1_0 Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queens University of Belfast, N. Ireland Computer for which the program is designed and others on which it has been tested: General computer Operating systems or monitors under which the program has been tested: Windows, Linux Programming language used: Java Memory required to execute with typical data: up to 34 MB including the Java Virtual Machine No. of bits in a word: 8 bits No. of processors used: 1 Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: No No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 471 145 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 141 457 Distribution format: tar.gz Nature of physical problem: To calculate and display holograms for generating multiple and dynamic optical tweezers to be reconfigured interactively. Method of solution: Fast random binary mask for the simultaneous codification of multiple phase functions into a phase modulation device. Typical running time: Up to 10 frames per second Unusual features of the program: None References: The method for calculating holograms can be found in [M. Montes-Usategui, E. Pleguezuelos, J. Andilla, E. Martin-Badosa, Fast generation of holographic optical tweezers by random mask encoding of Fourier components, Opt. Express 14 (2006) 2101–2107].