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1. Needle-based deep-neural-network camera

   https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.415059  

   Guo, Ruipeng ; Nelson, Soren ; Menon, Rajesh ( March 2021 , Applied Optics)

   We experimentally demonstrate a camera whose primary optic is a cannula/needle ($\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{r}=0.22\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$and$\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}=12.5\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$) that acts as a light pipe transporting light intensity from an object plane (35 cm away) to its opposite end. Deep neural networks (DNNs) are used to reconstruct color and grayscale images with a field of view of 18° and angular resolution of$\sim <\#comment/>{0.4}^{\circ <\#comment/>}$. We showed a large effective demagnification of$127\times <\#comment/>$. Most interestingly, we showed that such a camera could achieve close to diffraction-limited performance with an effective numerical aperture of 0.045, depth of focus$\sim <\#comment/>16\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$, and resolution close to the sensor pixel size (3.2 µm). When trained on images with depth information, the DNN can create depth maps. Finally, we show DNN-based classification of the EMNIST dataset before and after image reconstructions. The former could be useful for imaging with enhanced privacy.

    

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2. Large-area, high-numerical-aperture multi-level diffractive lens via inverse design

   https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.388697  

   Meem, Monjurul ; Banerji, Sourangsu ; Pies, Christian ; Oberbiermann, Timo ; Majumder, Apratim ; Sensale-Rodriguez, Berardi ; Menon, Rajesh ( March 2020 , Optica)

   Flat lenses enable thinner, lighter, and simpler imaging systems. However, large-area and high-NA flat lenses have been elusive due to computational and fabrication challenges. Here we applied inverse design to create a multi-level diffractive lens (MDL) with thickness$<<\#comment/>1.35\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$, diameter of 4.13 mm, and$\mathrm{N}\mathrm{A}=0.9$at wavelength of 850 nm (bandwidth$\sim <\#comment/>35\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$). Since the MDL is created in polymer, it can be cost-effectively replicated via imprint lithography.

    

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3. Design of infrared microspectrometer based on phase-modulated axilenses

   https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.390610  

   Chen, Yuyao ; Britton, Wesley A. ; Dal Negro, Luca ( June 2020 , Applied Optics)

   We design and characterize a novel axilens-based diffractive optics platform that flexibly combines efficient point focusing and grating selectivity and is compatible with scalable top-down fabrication based on a four-level phase mask configuration. This is achieved using phase-modulated compact axilens devices that simultaneously focus incident radiation of selected wavelengths at predefined locations with larger focal depths compared with traditional Fresnel lenses. In addition, the proposed devices are polarization-insensitive and maintain a large focusing efficiency over a broad spectral band. Specifically, here we discuss and characterize modulated axilens configurations designed for long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) in the 6 µm–12 µm wavelength range and in the 4 µm–6 µm midwavelength infrared (MWIR) range. These devices are ideally suited for monolithic integration atop the substrate layers of infrared focal plane arrays and for use as compact microspectrometers. We systematically study their focusing efficiency, spectral response, and cross-talk ratio; further, we demonstrate linear control of multiwavelength focusing on a single plane. Our design method leverages Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction theory and is validated numerically using the finite element method. Finally, we demonstrate the application of spatially modulated axilenses to the realization of a compact, single-lens spectrometer. By optimizing our devices, we achieve a minimum distinguishable wavelength interval of$\mathrm{\Delta <\#comment/>}\mathrm{\lambda <\#comment/>}=240\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$at${\mathrm{\lambda <\#comment/>}}_c=8\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$and$\mathrm{\Delta <\#comment/>}\mathrm{\lambda <\#comment/>}=165\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$at${\mathrm{\lambda <\#comment/>}}_c=5\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$. The proposed devices add fundamental spectroscopic capabilities to compact imaging devices for a number of applications ranging from spectral sorting to LWIR and MWIR phase contrast imaging and detection.

    

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4. Monolithic all-silicon flat lens for broadband LWIR imaging

   https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.426384  

   Kigner, Orrin ; Meem, Monjurul ; Baker, Brian ; Banerji, Sourangsu ; Hon, Philip W. C. ; Sensale-Rodriguez, Berardi ; Menon, Rajesh ( August 2021 , Optics Letters)

   We designed, fabricated, and characterized a flat multi-level diffractive lens comprised of only silicon with$\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{r}=15.2\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$, focal$\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}=19\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$, numerical aperture of 0.371, and operating over the long-wave infrared (LWIR)$\mathrm{s}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{m}=8\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$to 14 µm. We experimentally demonstrated a field of view of 46°, depth of focus$><\#comment/>5\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$, and wavelength-averaged Strehl ratio of 0.46. All of these metrics were comparable to those of a conventional refractive lens. The active device thickness is only 8 µm, and its weight (including the silicon substrate) is less than 0.2 g.

    

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5. Efficient and compact thermo-optic phase shifter in silicon-rich silicon nitride

   https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.431757  

   Nejadriahi, Hani ; Pappert, Steve ; Fainman, Yeshaiahu ; Yu, Paul ( September 2021 , Optics Letters)

   The design, fabrication, and characterization of low-loss ultra-compact bends in high-index ($n=3.1$at$\mathrm{\lambda <\#comment/>}=1550\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition silicon-rich silicon nitride (SRN) were demonstrated and utilized to realize efficient, small footprint thermo-optic phase shifter. Compact bends were structured into a folded waveguide geometry to form a rectangular spiral within an area of$65\times <\#comment/>65\text{µ<\#comment/>}{\mathrm{m}}^2$, having a total active waveguide length of 1.2 mm. The device featured a phase-shifting efficiency of$8\mathrm{m}\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>}$and a 3 dB switching bandwidth of 15 KHz. We propose SRN as a promising thermo-optic platform that combines the properties of silicon and stoichiometric silicon nitride.

    

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