Susanne Zwick

Dynamic holography using pixelated light modulators

Dynamic holography using spatial light modulators is a very flexible technique that offers various new applications compared to static holography. We give an overview on the technical background of dynamic holography focusing on pixelated spatial light modulators and their technical restrictions, and we present a selection of the numerous applications of dynamic holography.

Fast digital hologram generation and adaptive force measurement in liquid-crystal-display-based holographic tweezers.

Computer-generated holograms in conjunction with spatial light modulators (SLMs) offer a way to dynamically generate holograms that are adapted to specific tasks. To use the full dynamic capability of the SLM, the hologram computation should be very fast. We present a method that uses the highly parallel architecture of a consumer graphics board to compute analytical holograms in video real time. A precice characterization of the SLM (Holoeye LC-R-2500) and the adaption of its settings to our near-infrared application is necessary to guarantee an efficient hologram reconstruction. The benefits of a fast computation of adapted holograms and the application of an efficient SLM are demonstrated by measuring the trapping forces of holographic tweezers.

3D Holographic Imaging and Trapping for Non-Invasive Cell Identification and Tracking

Real-time high-throughput identification, screening, characterization, and processing of biological specimen is of great interest to a host of areas spanning from cell biology and medicine to security and defense. Much like human biometrics, microorganisms exhibit natural signatures that can be used for identification. In this paper, we first overview two optical techniques, namely digital holographic microscopy and holographic optical tweezers which can non-invasively image, manipulate, and identify microorganisms in three dimensions. The two methods bear similarities in their optics and implementation. Thus, we have proposed a new approach to identification of micro/nano organisms and cells by combining the two methods of digital holographic microscopy and holographic optical tweezers which can be integrated into a single compact hardware. The proposed system can simultaneously sense, control, identify, and track cells and microorganisms in three dimensions. New possibilities that arise from the proposed method are discussed.

Resolution limitations for tailored picture-generating freeform surfaces

Picture-generating freeform surfaces are able to generate a picture in a defined plane by incoherent beam shaping comparable to illumination purposes. No classical imaging is performed. Therefore the classical Rayleigh criterion of the diffraction limit cannot be applied. In this paper, we investigate the physical light formation of picture-generating freeform surfaces using Fresnel-Huygens-based simulations. A criterion for the diffraction limit was found. The resolution of such surfaces is significantly inferior to the resolution of classical imaging systems. However, in many cases, such systems are limited by the geometrical resolution. The influence of those two limitations were examined and a maximum of resolution, being limited by diffraction and by geometrical parameters can be found.

SLM-based phase-contrast filtering for single and multiple image acquisition

We report on the implementation of different phase contrast methods using an SLM in a microscope. The ease of generating complex phase filters with the SLM opens the possibility to realize standard filters adapted to the specimen and the possibility to develop new phase contrasting methods. Due to the real-time addressing we can obtain a number of different images from each specimen recorded nearly simultaneously with the same microscope objective. We demonstrate how to realize different versions of differential interference contrast imaging, Zernike-type imaging and dark-field imaging and the combination of the different images by simple post processing. Experimental results for biological as well as technical specimens are presented.

Holographic optical tweezers with real-time hologram calculation using a phase-only modulating LCOS-based SLM at 1064 nm

We present a method that enables the generation of arbitrary positioned dual-beam traps without additional hardware in a single-beam holographic optical tweezers setup. By this approach stable trapping at low numerical aperture and long working distance is realized with an inverse standard research microscope. Simulations and first experimental results are presented. Additionally we present first steps towards using the method to realize a holographic 4π-microscope. We will also give a detailed analysis of the phase-modulating properties and especially the spatial-frequency dependent diffraction efficiency of holograms reconstructed with the phase-only LCOS spatial light modulator used in our system. Finally, accelerated hologram optimization based on the iterative Fourier transform algorithm is done using the graphics processing unit of a consumer graphics board.

3D phase-shifting fringe projection system on the basis of a tailored free-form mirror

Phase-shifting fringe projection is an effective method to perform 3D shape measurements. Conventionally, fringe projection systems utilize a digital projector that images fringes into the measurement plane. The performance of such systems is limited to the visible spectral range, as most projectors experience technical limitations in UV or IR spectral ranges. However, for certain applications these spectral ranges are of special interest. We present a wideband fringe projector that has been developed on the basis of a picture generating beamshaping mirror. This mirror generates a sinusoidal fringe pattern in the measurement plane without any additional optical elements. Phase shifting is realized without any mechanical movement by a multichip LED. As the system is based on a single mirror, it is wavelength-independent in a wide spectral range and therefore applicable in UV and IR spectral ranges. We present the design and a realized setup of this fringe projection system and the characterization of the generated intensity distribution. Experimental results of 3D shape measurements are presented.

Fast hologram computation and aberration control for holographic tweezers

Holographic tweezers offer a very versatile tool in many trapping applications. Compared to tweezers working with acousto optical modulators or using the generalized phase contrast, holographic tweezers so far were relatively slow. The computation time for a hologram was much longer than the modulation frequency of the modulator. To overcome this drawback we present a method using modified algorithms which run on state of the art graphics boards and not on the CPU. This gives the potential for a fast manipulation of many traps, for cell sorting for example, as well as for a real-time aberration control. The control of aberrations which can vary spatially or temporally is relevant to many real world applications. This can be accomplished by applying an iterative approach based on image processing.

Light fields with an axially expanded intensity distribution for stable three-dimensional optical trapping

We introduce a new kind of light field to improve and simplify the trapping process of axially displaced particles. To this end we employ a light field with an axially expanded intensity distribution, which at the same time enables stable axial trapping. We present simulations of the axial intensity distribution of the novel trapping field and first experimental results, which demonstrate the improvement of the reliability of the axial trapping process. The method can be used to automate trapping of particles that are located outside of the focal plane of the microscope.

Advanced Scanning Laser‐Doppler Vibrometer with Computer Generated Holograms

In this paper we present a novel technique for steering the beam of a scanning laser‐Doppler vibrometer (LDV) using a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). Computer Generated Holograms (CGH) are employed to obtain the phase maps displayed by the SLM. Due to this approach, spurious diffraction orders are generated. We present concepts to suppress these diffraction orders so as to realize a scanning vibrometer. We discuss the properties and limitations of this solution. Different SLMs have been evalutated and a compact scanning vibrometer based on a Holoeye Pluto SLM has been realized. First measurement results are presented. In addition, we demonstrate simulations on the reduction of speckle related signal dropouts. Drop‐Outs can be reduced by adapting the measurement‐beam wavefront with the CGH to maximize the light power collected with the vibrometer aperture. We have explored an approach to optimize the signal strength by adapting the coefficients of the Zernike polynomials of an additional wavefront shift.