This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 7000, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and the Conference Committee listing.

The need to keep transmission capacity growing is a never ending process which is becoming more and more challenging to fulfill. Over the years we have witnessed data rates to grow from less than one bit per second all the way up to tens of Giga bits per second thus leading to the overall aggregate throughputs of several Terra bits per second which can be observed in today's the most advanced optical communications networks. This progression was accomplished by replacing earlier simple copper conductor wires by a twisted pair, then by coaxial cables which later on were superseded by microwave transmission systems. After fundamental discoveries leading to coherent light sources - lasers and fiber optic cables, fiber optics data communication became the prevailing way in data transmission. The combination of fiber optics, optical data multiplexing techniques, and advanced electronic signal processing helped to realize data transmission capabilities which just a few years ago would have been very hardly even to imagine.

An overview of current commercial and emerging approaches to single-photon-sensitive detection is given. Special attention is devoted to the detectors providing photon-number resolution with respect to their application in quantum optics and quantum information. Besides detectors offering photon-number resolution intrinsically, also multiplexing detectors are treated. A comparison of the detector technologies is presented.

Here we report on the recent developments and upgrades of our Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy setups and their different modification for high-resolution mapping. Mapping capabilities of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry are compared. The applied improvements as an autofocus algorithm, together with the realization of double-pulse LIBS or combination of LIBS by Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (LIFS) with technique are detailed. The signal enhancement obtained by double-pulse approach is demonstrated. The state of the art on development of portable remote LIBS apparatus is also presented.

A carefully designed metal-dielectric periodic stack forms a simple optical metamaterial with small losses and super-resolving properties for imaging between its external boundaries in the near-UV or visible wavelength range. The effective penetration depth reaches the order of one micrometer with the resolution even tenfold better than predicted by the Rayleigh criterion in air. Therefore the stack may be seen as a transparent and super-resolving metamaterial. Depending on the strength of Fabry-Perot resonances it may either support standing-wave internal field distributions or allow for approximately diffraction-free propagation not limited to any specific beam profiles. The latter case enables to design shaped elements such as prisms, or elements of optical cloaks which retain the same diffraction-free properties. Here an overview of the physical models which explain the super-resolution is presented - in particular with reference to the effective medium theory. The numerical simulations are based on the transfer matrix method. A discussion on the analogies between subwavelenegth imaging with metal-dielectric multilayers and isoplanatic imaging systems considered in the past within the framework Fourier Optics is included.

Optical singularities have focused much of attention for last thirty years. This paper is a short report on applications of optical vortices both actual and potential. Unfortunately the optical vortices are still more promising features in optical fields than working in real applications. However, there is a hope that they usefulness will grow in the future.

Pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques are reviewed and new results on PLD and LIBS of functional oxide materials are reported. Nano-composite high-T_c superconducting (HTS) films with enhanced critical current density are produced by laser ablation of novel ceramic targets. The transport properties of HTS thin films are modified by light-ion irradiation. Nano-patterning of HTS films is achieved by masked ion beam irradiation. Optically transparent epitaxial ZnO layers are grown by PLD and acoustic resonances in the GHz range are excited by piezoelectric actuation. LIBS is employed to analyze impurity trace elements in industrial oxide powder. For quantitative analysis of major and minor elements the calibration-free LIBS method is refined. This CFLIBS method is employed to the analysis of multi-element materials and very good match with nominal concentration of oxides is achieved (relative error less than 20 %).

This contribution presents experimental results in the field of planar two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PhC) structures, as well as their design, fabrication and analysis. We demonstrate maskless optical methods leading to fabrication of 2D PhC structures for applications in optoelectronics. The 2D PhC structures of square and triangular symmetries with period from 275 nm to 2 μm were fabricated in thin photoresist layer, III-V semiconductor surfaces and polymethylmethacrylate using interference lithography and near-field scanning optical microscope lithography. The 2D PhC structures prepared in GaAs surface were used as a mold for nanoimprint lithography in polymethylmethacrylate.

Decreasing the illumination wavelength allows to improve the spatial resolution in photon-based imaging systems and enables a nanometer-scale spatial resolution. Due to a significant interest in nanometer-scale spatial resolution imaging short wavelengths from extreme ultraviolet (EUV) region are often used. A few examples of various imaging techniques, such as holography, zone plate EUV microscopy, computer generated hologram EUV reconstruction, lens-less diffraction imaging and generalized Talbot self-imaging will be presented utilizing coherent and incoherent EUV sources. Some of these EUV imaging techniques lead to the high spatial resolution, better than 50nm in a very short exposure time. The techniques, presented herein, have potential to be used in actinic mask inspection for EUV lithography, mask-less lithographic processes in the nanofabrication, in material science or biology.

In this paper authors present the method for measurement of micro displacements along optical axis of the reflective object. Three separate focused beams are used in those measurements. Those three plane waves are reflected by examined object surface and their interference tends to create regular lattice of the optical vortices. In this paper authors present test results of sensitivity of an actual measurement system.

The vortex lattice can be practically used in metrology. The Optical Vortex Interferometer (OVI) is an useful tool to generate a regular lattice of optical vortices. Unfortunately, there are still many problems that have to be solved before an OVI-based device can go into production. In this paper experimental results of using another type of OVI, OVI with one focused beam, are presented. The results of measuring small displacements of reflecting areas are also shown.

This paper presents a new technique of localization of Optical Vortex center (Vortex Point), which is based on Artificial Neural Network. The network accepts as inputs intensities of pixels in a square sub-area of fixed size and produces two output signals correlated to X and Y coordinates of vortex point. A feed-forward neural network with one hidden, non-linear layer was used. The learning criterion was Mean Squared Error and the net was trained with Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm implemented in MATLAB with distorted and noisy images of simulated Optical Vortex Interferometer. The authors provide the results of localization for two sizes of sub-area and two types of simulated interference patterns. The first type of interferogram contain lattice of optical vortices obtained by interference of three plane waves and the second type of interferogram with fringe bifurcations created by interference of lattice of optical vortex with additional, fourth plane wave. The results of simulations suggest possible employment of the proposed method in an experimental setup due to the localization error median being around 0.4 pixel for "three waves" case and 0.9 pixel for "four waves".

We present the results of measurement of dispersion characteristics of two-mode highly birefringent (HB) fibers by three spectral interferometric techniques. First, a technique employing a tandem configuration of a Michelson interferometer and HB fiber under test is used for a broad spectral range measurement (e.g. 500-1300 nm) of the group modal birefringence for two spatial modes supported by the fiber. Second, a method of a lateral point-like force acting on the fiber and based on spectral interferometry is used for measuring the phase modal birefringence at one wavelength for the fundamental mode only. The measured value is combined with the dispersion of the group modal birefringence to obtain the phase modal birefringence over a broad wavelength range. Third, a spectral interferometric technique employing an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer with HB fiber in the test arm is used for measuring the wavelength dependence of the chromatic dispersion of the one of the polarization modes supported by the HB fiber over a broad wavelength range (e.g. 500-1400 nm). From this dependence and from the chromatic-dispersion difference, which is obtained from the measured group modal birefringence, the chromatic dispersion of the other polarization mode supported by the HB fiber is retrieved. We measured by these techniques dispersion characteristics of two HB fibers, including elliptical-core HB fiber and microstructured HB fiber.

We present an experimental arrangement of an interferometric system designed to operate with full compensation for varying refractive index of air in the measuring axis. The concept is based on a principle where the wavelength of the laser source is derived not from an optical frequency of the stabilized laser but from a fixed length being a base-plate or a frame of the whole measuring setup. This results into stabilization of the wavelength of the laser source in atmospheric conditions to mechanical length of suitable etalon made of a material with very low thermal expansion. The ultra-low thermal expanding glass ceramic materials available on the market perform thermal expansion coefficients on the level 10^-8 which significantly exceeds the limits of uncertainty posed by indirect evaluation of refractive index of air through Edlen formula. To verify the concept a tracking of laser frequency following the drift of refractive index has been performed.

First set-up of the laser interferometer with tunable semiconductor laser is presented. To reduce the influence of the index of refraction of air, the design of optical set-up of the experimental interferometer is realized using fiber optics. VCSEL diodes (Vertical Surface Emitting Laser) and DFB laser diodes (Distributed FeedBack) were used in our setup of the laser interferometer. Comparison of the frequency stability and the wavelength tuneability of these laser diodes are presented. In our first set-up of the laser interferometer was used the method of the frequency stabilization on optical resonator to stabilize of frequency of laser diodes and measurement of the tuneability of the wavelength. Measurement of absolute values can be providing by this laser interferometer. The project will be proceed with the research of other modulation and detection techniques and development of a new method with high level of digital signal processing for the detection of interference signals to improve resolution of the interferometer. The design of an absolute laser interferometer which was intended to operate in applications oriented to precision manufacturing and testing where the ability to measure distance directly is needed and where the measured distances are relatively small ranging over no more than few cm.

An application of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) to modulation extraction of additive moir´e fringes and time-average patterns is described. To facilitate the task of demodulating a signal with zero crossing values a two frame approach for the wavelet ridge extraction is proposed. Experimental studies of resonance vibration mode patterns by time-average interferometry provide verification of numerical findings. They agree very well with our previous investigation results obtained using the temporal phase shifting method. No need of performing phase shifting represents significant simplification of the experimental procedure.

A method of a digital holography based on the use of a self-imaging of the phase element is presented and assessed in terms of image quality and resolution. The experimental results of digital hologram acquisition and reconstructions are given for a standard USAF test pattern. The self imaging effect is used in the reference beam of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in order to project a structured phase modulated beam directly onto the photosensitive matrix of a digital camera. The main advantage of this method is a simple optical setup and the possibility of performing phase-shifting with a single camera exposure. The numerical reconstruction takes advantage of the Talbot effect and does not involve any approximation or interpolation techniques. In order to evaluate the applicative potential of the method, in this work the image quality is checked for various parameters of the optical setup, especially the period of the self-imaging structure and imaging distances.

The use of an ultra low expansion cavity plays a crucial role in laser stabilization, and in atomic or ion clocks. We propose an easy method of precise monitoring of optical path distance in Fabry-Perot interferometer. The spacing of mirrors of the Fabry-Perot interferometer in ambient air represents the optical path distance referenced to stable optical frequency of the femtosecond mode-locked laser. With the help of highly selective optical filter it is possible to get only a few of separate spectral components of laser comb. Optical path distance is transfered to optical frequency of the comb component and through the repetition frequency of the laser to the radio-frequency domain. Repetition frequency of the laser can be monitored with the uncertainty referenced to the any local oscillator or through the GPS to the atomic clock standard. By using this mehod we are able to measure and lock the Fabry-Perot cavity to a selected single component of optical frequency comb an to measure the optical path distance directly in rf domain.

A new method of determining arbitrary phase shifts in Phase Shifting Interferometry (PSI) is presented. The method uses a unique property of Localized Cross Spectral Analysis (LCSA) that constitutes a part of the Stransform to estimate the unknown parameter. The computed phase shifts are then used as an input to the generalized PSI algorithm to obtain accurate phase distribution information. The effectiveness of this method is then verified by means of computer simulations and experimentally acquired data.

Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is a powerful tool for observation of biological samples. The main advantage of DHM imaging is the possibility to reconstruct the intensity image and the phase image of an observed sample in real-time. The background of phase images is deformed and this deformation is changing during a long-term experiment. We describe here a novel procedure of deformation compensation for sequence of phase images. This novel procedure is based on deformation compensation procedure for a single phase image which uses the least square method. The novel procedure is applicable to compensate deformation during observation in real-time. The proposed procedure is applied to phase images of cells obtained by a transmitted-light digital holographic microscope.

A method of color projection of 2D images utilizing red, green and blue laser sources and Fourier holograms addressed on a single phase modulator has been reported. High quality rich-colored images were achieved, although the main difficulty in reaching the TV-quality is the presence of a 0th diffractive order. It is inevitably created due to a limited fill factor and phase modulation nonlinearity of the used Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) device. However, in certain conFigureurations the light energy contributing to the spurious diffractive order can be focused in a single point in space and absorbed with an amplitude filter. In this work we present the experimental results of a color projection with the non-diffracted peak shifted outside the viewing range in both transverse directions and along the optical axis.

There is presented a simulation of the speckle propagation by means of a computer in this paper. The model is designed for in-plane translation of an object generating speckle field. There is used the Fresnel-Kirchhof diffraction theory for description of the speckle field propagation. The presented numerical model involves detection of speckle pattern at any observation angles. The model is verified through a method of correlation of speckle fields which results are compared to ones provided by theoretical relations.

A study of imaging in an isoplanatic optical setup with a spatially incoherent illumination is presented. In such optical setups a light intensity distribution in an image plane can be calculated by a convolution of an input field with a Point Spread Function (PSF). Additionally a numerical simulation of incoherent monochromatic illumination is done by an integration of intensity images obtained with different random initial phase distributions (equivalent to a long exposure with a rotating diffuser in an optical setup). When an optical system is non space-invariant the point source image changes in various regions of the image plane and imaging simulation becomes complicated. Method with a simple convolution with PSF distribution cannot be applied because there is no one well defined PSF for the whole optical setup. This second method needs a bigger computational effort but can provide imaging modelling for both isoplanatic and non space invariant situations. In this contribution we compare the two mentioned methods in terms of imaging quality and its agreement with theoretical expectations. We give some statistical analysis of a contrast and noise level of the obtained pictures. We discuss the advantages and limitations of both modelling techniques for typical greyscale test patterns.

The experimental demonstration of a blind deconvolution method on an imaging system with a Light Sword optical element (LSOE) used instead of a lens. Try-and-error deconvolution of known Point Spread Functions (PSF) from an input image captured on a single CCD camera is done. By establishing the optimal PSF providing the optimal contrast of optotypes seen in a frame, one can know the defocus parameter and hence the object distance. Therefore with a single exposure on a standard CCD camera we gain information on the depth of a 3-D scene. Exemplary results for a simple scene containing three optotypes at three distances from the imaging element are presented.

This paper deals with the design, fabrication, and applications of the synthetic diffractive elements. Selected design algorithms such as the Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm and others have been researched and improved to give better results for particular applications. Interesting fabrication technologies such as the matrix laser lithography are also presented. Finally, several applications are described that have been solved at the Department of Physical Electronics of the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering.

Spatial imaging is nowadays realized using a number of principles and technologies. Application of stereography in combination with the diffractive structures is thus only one of many possible solutions. We introduce two methods of synthetic stereography using diffractive structures. The two-step method of holographic stereography records a 2D matrix of primary holograms in its first step, using an original recording device. This multiplexed master is then reconstructed in a typical holographic scheme and a full-color rainbow hologram can be recorded in the second step. The second presented method, the method of direct writing, records the diffractive structure of a full-color synthetic stereogram in a single step, using an optical lithograph. The recorded structure is composed of elementary diffraction gratings and is completely calculated using a computer. Benefits and specific problems of both methods are discussed.

Polarimetry, based on the measurement of the Faraday and the Cotton-Mouton effects, gives an important information on thermonuclear plasma density and current value. However at high plasma density and current conditions both effects start combine nonlinearly and it is difficult to obtain pure Faraday rotation angle and Cotton-Mouton phase shift angle. The paper presents an estimation of this interaction for various plasma regimes, typical for modern tokamak devices. The accuracy of the model, taking into account the coupling between the Faraday and the Cotton-Mouton when both effects are equal, is analyzed for the vertical beam path in the magnetized plasma.

The evolution of polarization along the ray in homogeneous plasma is analyzed in situation when Faraday and Cotton-Mouton effects are not small and comparable with each other. On the basis of the quasi-isotropic approximation of geometrical optics method authors find the numerical solution for azimuthal and ellipticity angles of polarization ellipse and analyze how the initial state of the incident beam affects obtained results. Numerical modeling is performed for plasma parameters comparable with those acceptable for the ITER project.

The fundamental research of the parametrical fluorescence is discussed. We start with the mathematical model. We have included the final size of nonlinear crystal, the chirped pump pulse of Gaussian elliptical beam in the model. We have verified the numerical results experimentally. We have used two different methods. First one used ICCD camera, and second one, scan by Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer.

In the paper propagation of two overlapping light pulses in saturable nonlinear medium of Kerr type is analyzed. During their interaction higher order effects are taken into account. The total field of both pulses satisfies Higher Order Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation (HONSE). This equation is being solved analytically and numerically for the field describing sum of two concentric solitons - one high and narrow and the second low but very wide. The approximate analytical solution of HONSE is obtained by means of canonical method. The derived ten Euler-Lagrange equations can be solved analytically if parameters of considered solitons significantly differ. The obtained solution describes oscillations of altitude and width of the narrow soliton and monotonous change of parameters of the wide component - its width increases and altitude decreases during propagation. The correspondence between numeric and analytical solutions is analyzed.

The influence of transverse effects on optical bistability in Fabry-Perot cavity filled with saturable absorber was numerically investigated. A simple model of singlet absorption was used on numerically solving the relationships between the input and output light fields. The proposed model corresponds well to organic compounds considered as novel optical materials with third-order optical nonlinearities. The proposed optically bistable systems were demonstrated for two organic dyes of fluorescein and rhodamine 6G dispersed in transparent solid matrices. Their optically bistable behaviour was anticipated considering the homogeneous and Gaussian distribution of light energy in the radial direction. Most notable cases are discussed related to the changes of the Gaussian beam radii, positive feedback conditions in the Fabry-Perot cavity and considering linear and nonlinear absorption parameters of the organic media. The simulation results enabled us to establish numerically thresholds of Fabry-Perot mirror reflectance and Gaussian beam radius for both nonlinear organic materials, above which absorptive optical bistability can occur. The results can be helpful in design of optical switches for all-optical communication networks.

We investigate two atoms coupled with a quantized field mode. Whereas one is the Jaynes-Cummings (JC) two-level atom, the other is an autoionizing system with two discrete levels and a continuum of states. In case interactions between the atoms do not occur, the periodic behavior of the JC atom contrasts with the autoionizing system. We ask whether or not a seesaw-like interaction between the atoms can change the behavior of the JC atom. We present photoelectron spectra dependent on the time for various initial states of the field mode.

Raman spectroscopy can elucidate fundamental questions about intercellular variability and what governs it. Moreover, knowing the metabolic response on single cell level this can significantly contribute to the study and use of microalgae in systems biology and biofuel technology. Raman spectroscopy is capable to measure nutrient dynamics and metabolism in vivo, in real-time, label free making it possible to monitor/evaluate population variability. Also, degree of unsaturation of the algae oil (iodine value) can be measured using Raman spectra obtained from single microalgae. The iodine value is the determination of the amount of unsaturation contained in fatty acids (in the form of double bonds). Here we demonstrate the capacity of the spatially resolved Raman microspectroscopy to determine the effective iodine value in lipid storage bodies of individual living algal cells. We employed the characteristic peaks in the Raman scattering spectra at 1,656 cm^-1 (cis C=C stretching mode) and 1,445 cm^-1 (CH₂ scissoring mode) as the markers defining the ratio of unsaturated-to-saturated carbon-carbon bonds of the fatty acids in the algal lipids.

We present a simple finite-difference scheme for solution of nonlinear coupled evolution equations that describe propagation of optical pulses under the slowly-varying envelope approximation. The scheme is based on upwind differencing and enables inclusion of various nonlinear effects. For the analysis we use examples of Kerr-nonlinear structures: waveguide directional coupler and channel dropping filter consisting of coupled microring resonators. Generalization to the more complex systems is straightforward. We study accuracy and stability of the scheme, demonstrate typical features, and comparison with other techniques.

Resolution of scanning near-field optical microscopes is limited by a sum of the aperture diameter at the tip of a tapered waveguide probe and twice the skin depth in metal used for coating. To increase the resolution we need to decrease the aperture diameter, to this end increase of energy throughput is necessary. Recently, we proposed that the interface between the fiber core and metal coating is structured into parallel grooves of different profiles curved inward the core. The role of grooves is to facilitate conversion of photons to plasmons at the core - cladding interface. In this paper we prove that a singe groove is enough to increase energy throughput by 500% in the case of aluminum cladding and 3000% for gold cladding over probes without corrugations. Moreover, one groove assures better transmission than a set of 10 grooves. Our investigations of aluminum, copper and gold coated probes are carried out using finite-difference time-domain simulations within the optical range 400-700 nm, a computational volume equal 30μm³, and discretisation step 0.5 nm.

In this work we designed and made a photonic crystal structure with a photonic band gap around 532 nm wavelength. The structure was to be made from two commercially available glasses. Both should have similar temperature coefficients (alpha), also melting and softening temperatures should be as close as possible in order to thermally process both glasses together. In addition the refractive indexes of chosen glasses should be as different as possible in order to facilitate a wide band gap. The pair of glasses that met those requirements is LLF1 and SF6 produced by Schott. For those two glasses we performed a series of computer simulations using MIT MPB software. After checking various structures the widest band gap for the 532 nm wavelength was found for the hexagonal structure of high dielectric constant rods in low index material with a linear fill factor of 0.12 and a lattice constant 3.75 μm. This structure was manufactured using the stack and draw method. The measurements of the final structure made by ESM show that it is regular, with diffusion between glasses at the manageable level. This assures that manufacture process is repeatable.

Presented work is dedicated to analysis of nonlinear effects in dual core photonic crystal fiber. Both theoretical and experimental approaches are used. Theoretical analysis includes determination of dispersion and coupling curves. Simulation of nonlinear propagation is based on coupled generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations. Modified numerical model utilizing split-step Fourier method was adapted for dual core fibers. In theoretical part possibility to use dual core fiber as supercontinuum source or nonlinear coupler is analyzed. Possibility to influence coupling efficiency and coupling length by intensity was shown in order to propose utilization of dual core fiber as nonlinear coupler. Experimental analysis was performed with femtosecond laser system in near IR region. Investigation included different input settings such as polarization, intensity, selective input coupling into each core and selective detection of spectra from each core. Theoretical and experimental spectra are compared and analyzed.

In the paper metamaterial nanotips with multi-frequency local field enhancement are proposed and studied theoretically and numerically. The nanotips are in form of pyramids built from silver nanoplates embedded in a dielectric block. The pyramids are layered structures with subsequent plates parallel to the pyramid base. Thickness of nanoplates and their transversal size is chosen to efficiently convert the light impinging on the pyramid base into hot spots near the pyramid apex, and also to support large number of plasmonic resonances which allow for multi-frequency enhancement of the light intensity. Geometrical parameters are designed to cover the visible light range.

In this paper we study the propagation of light through silver-dielectric metamaterial layered prism which operates in the canalization regime. The prism is illuminated with TM-polarized light and is designed using the effective medium theory as strongly anisotropic and impedance matched to air. The structure has an infinite value of the effective permittivity in the direction perpendicular to layer surfaces. Therefore it is able to couple a broad spectrum of incident spatial frequencies, including evanescent waves, into propagating modes. As a result, subwavelength resolution at the output interface of the structure is observed. Further the device is characterised with the transfer matrix method (TMM), and investigated with Finite Difference Time Domain method (FDTD). Two parameters of the prism are studied, namely the angle of incidence and the apex angle, to obtain the best resolution.

Surface plasmons-polaritons (or briefly, surface plasmons, SP) have been intensively investigated as potential information carriers for ultra-small photonic (plasmonic) devices and circuits. SPs can be confined in subwavelength regions, but their propagation is inherently lossy due to free-carrier absorption in metals. Thus, the proper balance between confinement and loss is the basic problem in the design of plasmonic waveguides and devices. This work is devoted to the analysis of waveguiding properties of plasmonic structures in which a homogeneous (bulk) metal is replaced with mutually interlaced metal and dielectric layers with deeply subwavelength thicknesses. Approaches based on effective medium theory and rigorous electromagnetic analysis are presented and mutually compared.

Undoped amorphous silicon thin films pasivated by hydrogen (a-Si:H) are important for a number of industrial and research applications, especially for optoelectronics, photovoltaics, optical communications, senzorics, laser technology and so on. We experimentally studied properties of the a-Si:H thin films prepared by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) method. Sample microstructure properties and the effect of the microstructure on optical properties of the a-Si:H thin films deposited by PECVD on glass were analysed. The spectral refractive index, extinction coefficient, and surface morphology were analysed for the series of a-Si:H samples prepared in different technological conditions from H diluted silane plasma. Surface morphology of studied samples was described by the atomic force microscopy (AFM) method. Optical properties of a-Si:H thin films were analysed by numerical optimization of the microstructural and dispersion model of optical parameters relative to the experimental spectral reflectance. The results show that at dilution between 20 and 30 the transition between amorphous and polycrystalline phase occurs. The sample becomes a mixture of amorphous and polycrystalline phase with nano-sized grains and voids with decreasing hydrogen concentration.

This contribution presents experimental results from the fabrication of planar photonic structures with two-dimensional (2D) arrangement. We demonstrate the near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) lithography as an effective optical method for fabrication of 2D photonic structures in thin photoresist layer. We employ a non-contact mode of NSOM lithography using a metal coated fiber tip in combination with 3D nanoposition piezosystem. Prepared photonic structures in thin photoresist layer deposited on the GaAs substrate are analyzed by scanning probe diagnostics. Set of experiments was realized in order to improve the aspect ratio of the patterned structures, where the exposure time and the intensity of the exposing field were parameters.

Single crystals of the terbium-scandium-aluminium garnet (Tb₃Sc₂Al₃O₁₂) and terbium-scandium perovskite (TbScO₃) prepared using the micro-pulling down method represent important materials with potential in photonics and optics. A method for far- and mid-infrared spectroscopy of the samples as small as 1 mm is proposed and tested in reflection and transmission configuration. High signal-to-noise ratio and high precision are obtained using the vacuum Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and a special pinhole holder. Reflectance spectra of the materials are measured in the spectral range from 7500 to 100 cm^-1 (1.3 μm - 100 μm) for the angle of incidence of 11 degree. Optical functions were obtained by fitting of the data with the model dielectric function consisting of Lorentz damped harmonic oscillators and fulfilling the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations.

In this paper results of soft glass single mode photonic crystal fibers (PCF) fabrication are presented. Using "stack and draw" technique a few kinds of PCFs (various core sizes and filling factors) made of multicomponent glasses has been successfully fabricated. Two glasses, developed in-house at the Institute of Electronic Materials Technology (ITME), have been used. High refractive index (nD=1.94) lead-bismuth-gallate glass (PGB-08) and borosilicate glass (NC21A). We have achieved attenuation 3.9 - 5.1dB/m (λ=806nm) for fibers made of NC21A glass and 15dB/m (λ=632.8nm) for PBG08 glass. Glasses attenuation: NC21A - 3.2dB/m, PBG-08 - 14.5dB/m. Fibers have very regular photonic cladding with filling factor in range 0.2 - 0.7.

In this paper we report on design and development of three types of the soft oxide glasses devoted to microstructured optical fibers manufacturing. The lead-bismuth glasses are synthesized in three-component oxide system of PbO-Bi₂O₃- Ga₂O₃ and in a complex five-component oxide system of SiO₂-Ga₂O₃-Bi₂O₃-PbO-CdO. The tellurite glasses are synthesized in oxide system of TeO₂-WO₃-PbO-Na₂O-Nb2O₅ with various concentration of WO3 (5-38%mol) and PbO (0-18%mol). Measurements of glass transmittance are performed over the range 200nm-10μm. Linear thermal expansion coefficients and characteristic temperatures of glasses are determined based on dilatometer and Leitz heat microscope measurements. A use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) method and crystallization tests (isothermal treatment) allows estimating the thermal stability of the glasses and susceptibility to crystallization. As a reference, similar measurements are performed for commercially available lead-silicate glasses SF57 and SF6, which are considered for development of nonlinear microstructured fibres. The glasses with an optimum resistance for devitrification during multiple thermal processing are selected among all developed glasses for further fibre development. We present a method for development of preform and subpreform elements as tubes, capillaries and rods used in the stack-and-draw technique of the fiber manufacture. We report also successful development of subpreform components of microstructured fibers based on selected tellurite and lead-bismuth glasses.

We have measured the dependence of transfer function of endlessly single mode photonic crystal fiber on the bends radius. The results are confirmed by numerical simulations. New questions on bending insensitivity of the Photonic Crystal Fibers and effective refractive index approximation of the Photonic Crystal Fiber arise as result.

Recently, 3D silver nanolenses with concentric slits with an on-axis stop and with concentric corrugations on both surfaces and no hole on the optical axis were proposed. The nanolenses illuminated with a radially polarized visible range Laguerre-Gauss beam focus light into subwavelength spots and act as high numerical aperture refractive optical systems. Focal lengths range from one to a few wavelengths. Due to constructive interference of far-field radiation of SPPs generated on the back side the lens focuses without contribution of the evanescent field. In this technical note we investigate transmission and focusing properties of lenses of both kinds made of different metals: silver, gold, copper, and aluminum.

We present a novel method for optical manipulation of microobjects and nanoobjects employing adaptive optical element to control properties of two counter-propagating beams overlapping in a sample chamber. We show that using this system one can eliminate optical aberrations in both pathways, online realign the system remotely from a computer interface, arbitrarily switch in real time between various beams types (i.e. Gaussian, Bessel, vortex) and their spatial intensity distributions (beam width, vorticity). We demonstrate optical manipulation of both high- and low-index particles in water or air, particle delivery in an optical conveyor belt using stationary mechanical components, formation of colloidal solitons, visualization of fluid flow in microcapillary as well as the rotation and reorientation of a trapped cell.

We describe in this paper a pilot experiment of a white-light fringe analysis with a low-cost color CCD camera. The used detection technique employs the phase-crossing algorithm which identifies the zero optical path difference as the point where the phase difference between the red, green and blue part of the white-light interference fringe becomes equal to zero. An experimental arrangement is based on superluminescent LED diode. The experimental setup is designed to be a crucial part of the complex system for automatic contactless diagnostic and calibration of gauge blocks.

Gradient structures are very important for sensors, laser and wave-guide techniques, telecommunications and other techniques which employ radiation propagation and conversion. By varying admixture concentration, the stress occurring in the structure may increase or reduce, which is vital for charge carrier movement velocity. We discusse two kind of gradient structures of thin TiNx layer with a total thickness of approximately 22 nm deposited on the Si(100) substrate and multi-layer structures with a Si-Pd and Si-Mg bi-layer periods. The gradient structures were deposited using a laser ablation of target-compound materials. A Lambda Physics excimer laser (model LPX 305i; t ~ 15 ns, λ = 193 nm) with f = 5 Hz operating frequency was used for layer depositing. The analyses confirmed the presence of the gradient distribution of deposited materials. The gradient structures proved highly sensitive to both thermal effects and strong adsorption of ambient gases. The usefulness of titanium-containing structures for gas, especially hydrogen and oxygen, sensors was confirmed. Due to the strong gas adsorption, the gradient structures used in radiation conversion or waveguide technology should be adequately protected against ambient conditions.

We present a setup established to measure the light polarization state based on the general concept of Stokes polarimeter. This setup consists of two liquid crystal modulators (LCMs), linear analyzer and CCD camera connected to PC computer. Using this polarimeter all two-dimensional distributions of main polarized light parameters can be measured. The measurement process consists of six fast intensity distributions measurements. In addition to the setup description we discuss also the ways of the angular justification of both LCMs elements as well as the proper selection of the LCMs' input voltages. The results of the measurement of some exemplary uniform and non-uniform polarized light distributions are presented.

A modern and efficient non-destructive testing method - active infrared thermography is analysed in the paper. This method can be used for detection of defects (e.g. hidden bubbles and cracks) and inhomogenities inside materials and various objects. Goal of the presented research is theoretical evaluation of the performance of the pulse active thermography, numeric modelling of heat propagation in complex non-homogeneous environment by Finite Element Method and experimental validation of theoretical results.

We describe a new concept of spectral ellipsometry based on a channeled spectrum detection in a polarimetric configuration with a birefringent crystal to measure the thickness of a thin film. We use a two-step technique to retrieve the ellipsometric phase of a thin-film structure from the recorded channeled spectra. In the first step, the phase difference between p- and s-polarized waves propagating in the birefringent crystal alone is retrieved. In the second step, the additional phase change that the polarized waves undergo on reflection from the thin-film structure is retrieved. Moreover, in the same polarimetric configuration, the ratio between the reflectances of both polarization states is determined. The new concept of ellipsometry is used in measuring the data for a SiO2 thin film on a Si substrate in a range from 550 to 900 nm and in determining the thin-film thickness provided that the optical parameters of the structure are known. The thicknesses of different samples obtained are compared with those resulting from previous interferometric and reflectometric measurements, and good agreement is confirmed.

The contribution is oriented towards measuring in the nanoscale through local probe microscopy techniques, primarily the AFM microscopy. The need to make the AFM microscope a nanometrology tool not only the positioning of the tip has to be based on precise measurements but the traceability of the measuring technique has to be ensured up to the primary etalon. This leads to the engagement of laser interferometric measuring methods. We present a design of a single-frequency stabilized laser which serves as a laser source for multiaxis position control of a nanopositioning stage. The laser stabilization technique is described together with comparison of frequency stability.

This work presents the observation, measurement and utilization of phase modulation in-time flickering, on a high-end Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). The flicker due to binary driving electronics is a negative effect. However, this drawback can be minimized by appropriate adjustment of phase modulation depth, which results in a time-synchronization of peak efficiencies for selected wavelengths. In this paper optimal parameters for three wavelengths of primary RGB colors are investigated. The result is optimal performance of the SLM for full-color dynamic holography.

The paper deals with a computer simulation and an experimental realization of an optical setup for automatic quality control of microlenses arrays. The method is based on a 4f coherent light correlator setup with an amplitude filter placed in the Fourier plane. The output intensity signal is simple to analyze and interpret because the intensity is proportional to the first derivative of the distortion of the input wavefront. This method is shift invariant, so it allows for examination of single elements or a set of micro-optical elements simultaneously. Such an analysis does not allow to obtain quantitative data, however it can give the initial assessment of the quality of the elements to be analyzed. A more detailed analysis can be carried out with the use of the Fourier-based modal method and Zernike polynomials expansion method. What is important, the analysis is computer-based and is done on the basis of the initial single optical measurement. Moreover, the whole resolution of the camera is used.