Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
2.6
2.1
Journals
Photonics
Special Issues
Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications
share announcement

Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2024 | Viewed by 11259

Special Issue Editors

Dr. A. Srinivasa Rao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Interests: laser engineering; laser beam shaping; singular optics; nonlinear optics; beam optics; light–matter interaction; scalar and vector modes; bio-imaging; diffractive optics
Dr. Andra Naresh Kumar Reddy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nonlinear Optics, University of Latvia, Jelgavas 3, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
Interests: laser physics; laser beam shaping; micro-optics; light–matter interaction; structured lights; non-diffracting beams; phase-locked lasers; diffractive optical elements; metalenses; OAM beams; computer-generated holography; optical imaging; point spread function; apodization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, structured light beams have garnered tremendous interest owing to their wide range of applications in all branches of science. The modulations in the transverse intensity and phase of structured light beams provide an extra degree of freedom in light applications. However, the spatiotemporal control of light beams offers a full degree of freedom to generate high-dimensional structured light fields. Further, the combination of polarization and structured light beams produces vector beams with a non-uniform polarization distribution. Well-developed computational and experimental techniques can be realized for use in light beam shaping to acquire the desired high-quality structured light beam for any particular application. Some concrete applications with promising benefits are super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, volumetric bio-imaging, particle trapping, secure optical communication, and the creation of micro/nanostructures on material surfaces.

The Photonics Journal, published by MDPI, is welcoming submissions for a Special Issue entitled “Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications”. This Special Issue is focused on the recent developments in various kinds of structured light beams and their potential impact on applications in the multidisciplinary sciences. As part of this Special Issue, we welcome high-quality research reviews, as well as theoretical, computational, and experimental original contributions on structured light field generation, characterization and their possible role in concrete applications. The topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Structured light beam generation using diffractive optical elements;
  • Direct generation of structured light beams from the laser cavity;
  • Application of structured light beams in biological, chemical, and physical sciences;
  • Structured light fields with unconventional propagation characteristics;
  • Peculiarities in the generation of high-order harmonics with structured light beams;
  • Dielectric metalenses for forming and controlling structured light;
  • Non-diffracting light fields in optical communication;
  • Ultrashort optical fields in manufacturing and material processing;
  • Imaging with exotic light fields.

Dr. A Srinivasa Rao
Dr. Andra Naresh Kumar Reddy
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • structured light beams
  • singular optics
  • nonlinear optics of structured light
  • bio-imaging
  • optical communications
  • structured light-matter interaction
  • laser beam shaping
  • holography
  • incoherent imaging
  • material manipulation with structured light

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

35 pages, 1470 KiB  
Article
Tight Focusing of Light
by Colin J. R. Sheppard
Photonics 2024, 11(10), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11100913 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 499
Abstract
The effects of various properties on the tight focusing of light are considered. In particular, polarization of the incident field is an important consideration. Plots are presented for the variations in the focal intensity, and the area and volume of the focal spot, [...] Read more.
The effects of various properties on the tight focusing of light are considered. In particular, polarization of the incident field is an important consideration. Plots are presented for the variations in the focal intensity, and the area and volume of the focal spot, with numerical aperture. We consider Bessel beams, focusing with a system of circular pupil, and 4Pi focusing by a pair of opposing high-numerical-aperture lenses or a single paraboloidal mirror. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1081 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Exploding Light Wave Packets
by Marcos G. Barriopedro, Manuel Holguín, Pablo de Lara-Montoya, Nilo Mata-Cervera and Miguel A. Porras
Photonics 2024, 11(7), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11070652 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 725
Abstract
We describe a family of paraxial and quasi-monochromatic optical wave packets with finite energy and smoothly shaped amplitude in space and time that develops a singularity in the intensity when spatio-temporally focused by imparting a converging spherical wavefront and a negative temporal chirp. [...] Read more.
We describe a family of paraxial and quasi-monochromatic optical wave packets with finite energy and smoothly shaped amplitude in space and time that develops a singularity in the intensity when spatio-temporally focused by imparting a converging spherical wavefront and a negative temporal chirp. This singular behavior upon ideal focusing is manifested in actual focusing with finite apertures and in media with high-order dispersion with “exploding” behavior featuring an indefinitely increasing concentration of the energy when opening the aperture radius, thus exercising continuous control on the focal intensity and spatial and temporal resolution. These wave packets offer a new way of focusing that outperforms what can be achieved with standard Gaussian wave packets in terms of focal intensity and resolution, providing new possibilities in applications where energy concentration and its control are crucial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 19086 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Polarization Distribution and Spin Angular Momentum of the Interference Field Obtained by Co-Planar Beams with Linear and Circular Polarization
by Svetlana N. Khonina, Andrey V. Ustinov, Alexey P. Porfirev and Sergey V. Karpeev
Photonics 2024, 11(5), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11050478 - 19 May 2024
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Interference of two and four light beams with linear or circular polarization is studied analytically and numerically based on the Richards–Wolf formalism. We consider such characteristics of the interference fields as the distribution of intensity, polarization, and spin angular momentum density. The generation [...] Read more.
Interference of two and four light beams with linear or circular polarization is studied analytically and numerically based on the Richards–Wolf formalism. We consider such characteristics of the interference fields as the distribution of intensity, polarization, and spin angular momentum density. The generation of light fields with 1D and 2D periodic structure of both intensity and polarization is demonstrated. We can control the periodic structure both by changing the polarization state of the interfering beams and by changing the numerical aperture of focusing. We consider examples with a basic configuration, as well as those with a certain symmetry in the polarization state of the interfering beams. In some cases, increasing the numerical aperture of the focusing system significantly affects the generated distributions of both intensity and polarization. Experimental results, obtained using a polarization video camera, are in good agreement with the simulation results. The considered light fields can be used in laser processing of thin films of photosensitive (as well as polarization-sensitive) materials in order to create arrays of various ordered nano- and microstructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6857 KiB  
Article
Generation of Propagation-Dependent OAM Self-Torque with Chirped Spiral Gratings
by Ruediger Grunwald, Mathias Jurke, Max Liebmann, Alexander Treffer and Martin Bock
Photonics 2024, 11(5), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11050463 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1029
Abstract
The application of non-uniform spiral gratings to control the structure, topological parameters and propagation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams was studied experimentally with coherent near-infrared light. Adapted digital spiral grating structures were programmed into the phase map of a high-resolution liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial [...] Read more.
The application of non-uniform spiral gratings to control the structure, topological parameters and propagation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams was studied experimentally with coherent near-infrared light. Adapted digital spiral grating structures were programmed into the phase map of a high-resolution liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulator (LCoS-SLM). It is shown that characteristic spatio-spectral anomalies related to Gouy phase shift can be used as pointers to quantify rotational beam properties. Depending on the sign and gradient of spatially variable periods of chirped spiral gratings (CSGs), variations in rotation angle and angular velocity were measured as a function of the propagation distance. Propagation-dependent self-torque is introduced in analogy to known local self-torque phenomena of OAM beams as obtained by the superposition of temporally chirped or phase-modulated wavepackets. Applications in metrology, nonlinear optics or particle trapping are conceivable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1956 KiB  
Article
Tunable Near and Mid-Infrared (1.3–5 µm) Picosecond Pulsed Optical Vortex Parametric Oscillator
by Mailikeguli Aihemaiti, Dulikun Sulaiman, Dana Jashaner, Yuxia Zhou, Xining Yang, Zhaoxue Li, Bilali Muhutijiang and Taximaiti Yusufu
Photonics 2024, 11(4), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11040319 - 29 Mar 2024
Viewed by 980
Abstract
In this paper, we present a picosecond pulsed, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator producing vortex beam output with tunable wavelengths in the near- to mid-infrared range. The system utilizes a Nd:YVO4 picosecond pulsed solid-state laser emitting at a wavelength of 1.064 µm [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a picosecond pulsed, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator producing vortex beam output with tunable wavelengths in the near- to mid-infrared range. The system utilizes a Nd:YVO4 picosecond pulsed solid-state laser emitting at a wavelength of 1.064 µm to pump a Z-shaped, singly resonant OPO which contains a MgO:PPLN crystal with a fan-shaped grating. The wavelength tuning characteristics of the OPO output are examined both as a function of the MgO:PPLN grating period and crystal temperature. The orbital angular momentum of the pump field can be selectively transferred to either the signal or idler fields by appropriately adjusting the location of the MgO:PPLN crystal within the OPO cavity. The maximum output power of the signal and idler vortex fields are 5.12 W and 3.46 W, respectively, for an incident pump power of 19 W. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 12490 KiB  
Article
Determining Topological Charge of Bessel-Gaussian Beams Using Modified Mach-Zehnder Interferometer
by Mansi Baliyan and Naveen K. Nishchal
Photonics 2024, 11(3), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11030263 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1106
Abstract
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) associated with structured singular beams carries vital information crucial for studying various properties and applications of light. Determining OAM through the interference of light is an efficient method. The interferogram serves as a valuable tool for analyzing the [...] Read more.
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) associated with structured singular beams carries vital information crucial for studying various properties and applications of light. Determining OAM through the interference of light is an efficient method. The interferogram serves as a valuable tool for analyzing the wavefront of structured beams, especially identifying the order of singularity. In this study, we propose a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer architecture to effectively determine the topological charge of Bessel–Gaussian (BG) beams. Several numerically generated self-referenced interferograms have been used for analysis. Moreover, this study examines the propagation property and phase distribution within BG beams after they are obstructed by an aperture in the interferometer setup. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 27451 KiB  
Communication
Spin Hall Effect of Two-Index Paraxial Vector Propagation-Invariant Beams
by Victor V. Kotlyar and Alexey A. Kovalev
Photonics 2023, 10(11), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10111288 - 20 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1011
Abstract
We investigate a simple paraxial vector beam, which is a coaxial superposition of two single-ringed Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams, linearly polarized along the horizontal axis, with topological charges (TC) n and −n, and of two LG beams, linearly polarized along the vertical [...] Read more.
We investigate a simple paraxial vector beam, which is a coaxial superposition of two single-ringed Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams, linearly polarized along the horizontal axis, with topological charges (TC) n and −n, and of two LG beams, linearly polarized along the vertical axis, with the TCs m and −m. In the initial plane, such a vector beam has zero spin angular momentum (SAM). Upon propagation in free space, such a propagation-invariant beam has still zero SAM at several distances from the waist plane (initial plane). However, we show that at all other distances, the SAM becomes nonzero. The intensity distribution in the cross-section of such a beam has 2m (if m > n) lobes, the maxima of which reside on a circle of a certain radius. The SAM distribution has also several lobes, from 2m till 2(m + n), the centers of which reside on a circle with a radius smaller than that of the maximal-intensity circle. The SAM sign alternates differently: one lobe has a positive SAM, while two neighbor lobes on the circle have a negative SAM, or two neighbor pairs of lobes can have a positive and negative SAM. When passing through a plane with zero SAM, positive and negative SAM lobes are swapped. The maximal SAM value is achieved at a distance smaller than or equal to the Rayleigh distance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 573 KiB  
Review
Angular Deviations, Lateral Displacements, and Transversal Symmetry Breaking: An Analytical Tutorial
by Stefano De Leo and Marco Mazzeo
Photonics 2024, 11(6), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11060573 - 19 Jun 2024
Viewed by 886
Abstract
The study of a Gaussian laser beam interacting with an optical prism, both through reflection and transmission, provides a technical tool to examine deviations from the optical path as dictated by geometric optics principles. These deviations encompass alterations in the reflection and refraction [...] Read more.
The study of a Gaussian laser beam interacting with an optical prism, both through reflection and transmission, provides a technical tool to examine deviations from the optical path as dictated by geometric optics principles. These deviations encompass alterations in the reflection and refraction angles, as predicted by the reflection and Snell laws, along with lateral displacements in the case of total internal reflection. The analysis of the angular distributions of both the reflected and transmitted beams allows us to understand the underlying causes of these deviations and displacements, and it aids in formulating analytic expressions that are capable of characterizing these optical phenomena. The study also extends to the examination of transverse symmetry breaking, which is a phenomenon observed in the laser beam as it traverses the oblique interface of the prism. It is essential to underscore that this analytical overview does not strive to function as an exhaustive literature review of these optical phenomena. Instead, its primary objective is to provide a comprehensive and self-referential treatment, as well as give universal analytical formulas intended to facilitate experimental validations or applications in various technological contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 6373 KiB  
Review
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Structured High-Order but Single Laguerre–Gauss LGp0 Laser Beams
by Kamel Aït-Ameur
Photonics 2024, 11(3), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11030217 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Most laser applications are based on the focusing of a Gaussian laser beam (GLB). When the latter is subject to a phase aberration such as the optical Kerr effect (OKE) or spherical aberration (SA), it is recognised that the focusing performance of the [...] Read more.
Most laser applications are based on the focusing of a Gaussian laser beam (GLB). When the latter is subject to a phase aberration such as the optical Kerr effect (OKE) or spherical aberration (SA), it is recognised that the focusing performance of the GLB is degraded. In this paper, it is demonstrated that high-order radial Laguerre–Gauss LGp0 beams are more resilient than the GLB when subject to the OKE or SA. This opens up opportunities to replace with advantages the usual GLB with a high-order LGp0 beam for some applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 56300 KiB  
Review
Optical Imaging Using Coded Aperture Correlation Holography (COACH) with PSF of Spatial-Structured Longitudinal Light Beams—A Study Review
by Joseph Rosen and Vijayakumar Anand
Photonics 2024, 11(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11020115 - 26 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Spatial-structured longitudinal light beams are optical fields sculpted in three-dimensional (3D) space by diffractive optical elements. These beams have been recently suggested for use in improving several imaging capabilities, such as 3D imaging, enhancing image resolution, engineering the depth of field, and sectioning [...] Read more.
Spatial-structured longitudinal light beams are optical fields sculpted in three-dimensional (3D) space by diffractive optical elements. These beams have been recently suggested for use in improving several imaging capabilities, such as 3D imaging, enhancing image resolution, engineering the depth of field, and sectioning 3D scenes. All these imaging tasks are performed using coded aperture correlation holography systems. Each system designed for a specific application is characterized by a point spread function of a different spatial-structured longitudinal light beam. This article reviews the topic of applying certain structured light beams for optical imaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-10

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Focal plane intensity structures of tightly focused linear basis hybrid order Poincaré sphere beams
Authors: Sushanta Kumar Pal 1,∗ and Ady Arie 1
Affiliation: 1 School of Electrical Engineering, Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
Abstract: In this article, tight focusing of linear basis hybrid order Poincaré sphere (HyOPS) beams embedded with Stokes vortices of order ±1 and ±2 are studied. The focal plane intensity distributions of these optical fields are found to depend on the helicity, polarity (positive/negative), and the absolute value of the Stokes singularity index of the singular point. In the case of linear basis (X/Y) HyOPS beams, the strengths of the transverse components at the focal plane are found to be different. However, for the linear basis (D/A) HyOPS beams the strengths of the transverse components at the focal plane are found to be the same. For all the linear basis HyOPS beams both the longitudinal and transverse field components are found to be embedded with phase vortices of charge ±1. The present study will be important to understand the fundamental aspects of linear basis HyOPS beams.

Title: Towards a geometrical representation of elliptical Ince-Gaussian vector beams
Authors: (1) Dayver Daza Salgado, (1) Edgar Medina Segura, (2) Valeria Rodriguez Fajardo, (3) Benjamin Perez-García and (1) Carmelo Rosales Guzman
Affiliation: (1) Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica, A.C., Loma del Bosque 115, Colonia Lomas del Campestre, 37150 León, Gto., México (2) Department of Physics and Astronomy, Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346, United States of America (3) Photonics and Mathematical Optics Group, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, Mexico

Title: Singularities in Computational Optics
Authors: Paramasivam Senthilkumaran
Affiliation: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Back to TopTop