Related papers: Particle manipulation beyond the diffraction limit…
Enhancing the ability to resolve axial details is crucial in three-dimensional optical imaging. We provide experimental evidence showcasing the ultimate precision achievable in axial localization using vortex beams. For Laguerre-Gauss (LG)…
We consider passive imaging tasks involving discrimination between known candidate objects and investigate the best possible accuracy with which the correct object can be identified. We analytically compute quantum-limited error bounds for…
In nanofabrication, just as in any other craft, the scale of spatial details is limited by the dimensions of the tool at hand. For example, the smallest details for direct laser writing with far-field light are set by the diffraction limit,…
A new far-field optical microscopy technique capable of reaching nanometer-scale resolution has been developed recently using the in-plane image magnification by surface plasmon polaritons. This microscopy is based on the optical properties…
The resolution of photoacoustic imaging deep inside scattering media is limited by the acoustic diffraction limit. In this work, taking inspiration from super-resolution imaging techniques developed to beat the optical diffraction limit, we…
Diffraction-limited focusing deep into biological tissue is challenging due to spherical aberrations that lead to a broadening of the focal spot particularly in axial direction. While the diffraction-limit can be restored employing…
Imaging of scenes using light or other wave phenomena is subject to the diffraction limit. The spatial profile of a wave propagating between a scene and the imaging system is distorted by diffraction resulting in a loss of resolution that…
Optical tweezers, formed by tightly focused propagating laser beams, offer the unique capability to trap and control microscopic particles over a broad size range. However, the diffraction inherent to propagating optical fields, limits the…
We suggest a scheme to manipulate paraxial diffraction by utilizing the dependency of a four-wave mixing process on the relative angle between the light fields. A microscopic model for four-wave mixing in a Lambda-type level structure is…
In Optics it is common to split up the formal analysis of diffraction according to two convenient approximations, in the near and far fields (also known as the Fresnel and Fraunhofer regimes, respectively). Within this scenario, geometrical…
High-resolution addressing of individual ultracold atoms, trapped ions or solid state emitters allows for exquisite control in quantum optics experiments. This becomes possible through large aperture magnifying optics that project…
A strongly confined light field necessarily exhibits a local polarization that varies on a subwavelength scale. We demonstrate that a single optical mode of such kind can be used to selectively and simultaneously manipulate atomic ensembles…
Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown that imaging with resolution well beyond the diffraction limit can be obtained with so-called superlenses. Images formed by such superlenses are, however, in the near field only, or a…
Lenses are crucial to light-enabled technologies. Conventional lenses have been perfected to achieve near-diffraction-limited resolution and minimal chromatic aberrations. However, such lenses are bulky and cannot focus light into a hotspot…
When focusing a light beam at high numerical aperture, the resulting electric field profile in the focal plane depends on the transverse polarisation profile, as interference between different parts of the beam needs to be taken into…
We present a laser beam shaping method using acousto-optic deflection of light and discuss its application to dipole trapping of ultracold atoms. By driving the acousto-optic deflector with multiple frequencies, we generate an array of…
Optical tweezers enable non-contact trapping of micro-scale objects using light. Despite their widespread use, it is currently not known how tightly it is possible to three-dimensionally trap micro-particles with a given photon budget.…
Fourier optics, the principle of using Fourier Transformation to understand the functionalities of optical elements, lies at the heart of modern optics, and has been widely applied to optical information processing, imaging, holography etc.…
Optical absorption is usually considered deleterious, something to avoid if at all possible. We propose a broadband nanoabsorber that completely eliminates the diffracting wave, resulting in a subwavelength enhancement of the field.…
In the past two decades, tremendous efforts have been exerted to understand and control the delivery of ultrashort laser pulses into various types of transparent materials ranging from glass and crystal to polymer and even bio-materials.…