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1. Quasi-monolithic heterodyne laser interferometer for inertial sensing

   https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.473476  

   Zhang, Yanqi; Guzman, Felipe (September 2022, Optics Letters)

   We present a compact heterodyne laser interferometer developed for high-sensitivity displacement sensing applications. This interferometer consists of customized prisms and wave plates assembled as a quasi-monolithic unit to realize a miniaturized system. The interferometer design adopts a common-mode rejection scheme to provide a high rejection ratio to common environmental noise. Experimental tests in vacuum show a displacement sensitivity level of $11\mathrm{p}\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}$at $100\mathrm{m}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}$and as low as $0.6\mathrm{p}\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}$above $1\mathrm{p}\mathrm{m}$. The prototype unit is $20\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}\times <\#comment/>20\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}\times <\#comment/>10\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m}$in size and weighs $4.5\mathrm{g}$, allowing subsequent integration in compact systems. 

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2. Optomechanical inertial sensors

   https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.393061  

   Hines, Adam; Richardson, Logan; Wisniewski, Hayden; Guzman, Felipe (June 2020, Applied Optics)

   We present a performance analysis of compact monolithic optomechanical inertial sensors that describes their key fundamental limits and overall acceleration noise floor. Performance simulations for low-frequency gravity-sensitive inertial sensors show attainable acceleration noise floors on the order of $1\times <\#comment/>{10}^{-<\#comment/>11}\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2\sqrt{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}$. Furthermore, from our performance models, we devised an optimization approach for our sensor designs, sensitivity, and bandwidth trade space. We conducted characterization measurements of these compact mechanical resonators, demonstrating $\text{mQ}$-products at levels of 250 kg, which highlight their exquisite acceleration sensitivity. 

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3. Diel variability of bulk optical properties associated with the growth and division of small phytoplankton in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

   https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.394123  

   Henderikx_Freitas, Fernanda; Dugenne, Mathilde; Ribalet, François; Hynes, Annette; Barone, Benedetto; Karl, David_M; White, Angelicque_E (July 2020, Applied Optics)

   Cross-platform observing systems are requisite to capturing the temporal and spatial dynamics of particles in the ocean. We present simultaneous observations of bulk optical properties, including the particulate beam attenuation ( ${\text{c}}_{\text{p}}$) and backscattering ( $b_{\text{bp}}$) coefficients, and particle size distributions collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Clear and coherent diel cycles are observed in all bulk and size-fractionated optical proxies for particle biomass. We show evidence linking diurnal increases in ${\text{c}}_{\text{p}}$and ${\text{b}}_{\text{bp}}$to daytime particle growth and division of cells, with particles $<<\#comment/>7\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$driving the daily cycle of particle production and loss within the mixed layer. Flow cytometry data reveal the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteriumCrocosphaera( $\sim <\#comment/>4-<\#comment/>7\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$) to be an important driver of ${\text{c}}_{\text{p}}$at the time of sampling, whereasProchlorococcusdynamics ( $\sim <\#comment/>0.5\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$) were essential to reproducing temporal variability in ${\text{b}}_{\text{bp}}$. This study is a step towards improved characterization of the particle size range represented byin situbulk optical properties and a better understanding of the mechanisms that drive variability in particle production in the oligotrophic open ocean. 

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4. 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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5. Sparse decomposition light-field microscopy for high speed imaging of neuronal activity

   https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.392805  

   Yoon, Young-Gyu; Wang, Zeguan; Pak, Nikita; Park, Demian; Dai, Peilun; Kang, Jeong_Seuk; Suk, Ho-Jun; Symvoulidis, Panagiotis; Guner-Ataman, Burcu; Wang, Kai; et al (October 2020, Optica)

   One of the major challenges in large scale optical imaging of neuronal activity is to simultaneously achieve sufficient temporal and spatial resolution across a large volume. Here, we introduce sparse decomposition light-field microscopy (SDLFM), a computational imaging technique based on light-field microscopy (LFM) that takes algorithmic advantage of the high temporal resolution of LFM and the inherent temporal sparsity of spikes to improve effective spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). With increased effective spatial resolution and SNRs, neuronal activity at the single-cell level can be recovered over a large volume. We demonstrate the single-cell imaging capability of SDLFM within vivoimaging of neuronal activity of whole brains of larval zebrafish with estimated lateral and axial resolutions of $\sim <\#comment/>3.5\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$and $\sim <\#comment/>7.4\text{µ<\#comment/>}\mathrm{m}$, respectively, acquired at volumetric imaging rates up to 50 Hz. We also show that SDLFM increases the quality of neural imaging in adult fruit flies. 

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