Diffractive zone plate optics uses a thin micro-structure pattern to alter the propagation direction of incoming light wave. It has found important applications in extreme-wavelength (extreme ultraviolet or soft X-ray) imaging where conventional refractive lenses do not exist. The resolution limit is determined by smallest width outermost zone. In order improve achievable resolution, significan...

The ever-growing demand for ultracompact micro- and nano-optics is guided by efficient applications in augmented/virtual reality, displays, Fourier optics. current technologies, mainly based on meta-solutions, suffer terms of efficiency tunability, as well complex multi-step fabrication methods that may limit their full-scale potential. Herein, a broadband laser composed close highly correlated...

Optical-computing technology offers new challenges to algorithm designers since it can perform an n-point discrete Fourier transform (DFT) computation in only unit time. Note that the DFT is a nontrivial computation in the parallel random-access machine model, a model of computing commonly used by parallel-algorithm designers. We develop two new models, the DFT-VLSIO (very-large-scale integrate...

Wavelength scanning interferometry offers a new dimension in precision metrology by measuring the cavity length (thickness), the cavity length variation over the cavity area (flatness), and the optical homogeneity within a transparent cavity; without any mechanical movement by implementing a tunable laser. This property is useful when the physical movement of a large optic is not feasible using...

We discuss the origins and regions of validity of various near-field diffraction models. The complete Rayleigh–Sommerfeld model is found to accurately represent intensity distributions for axial distances up to and including the location of the aperture, a region where commonly used models fail. We show that near-field diffraction theory can be applied to the refraction of light at an interface...

We present a new Fourier-based exact solution for deterministic phase unwrapping from experimental maps of wrapped phase in the presence of noise and phase vortices. This single-step approach has superior performance for images with high phase gradients or insufficient digital sampling approaching 2pi/pixel and therefore performs as a fast and practical solution for the phase-unwrapping problem...

In phase-contrast light and electron microscopy, one exploits the wave properties of photons and electrons respectively. The principles of imaging with waves are the realm of “Fourier Optics”. As a very first experiment (“Gedankenexperiment”), let us think back to days when we – as children – would focus the (parallel) light waves of the (far away) sun on a piece of paper in order to set it ali...

Image reconstruction from amplitude-only and phase-only data in the fractional Fourier domain applying the inverse fractional Fourier transform is analyzed on the examples of perfect edges of different contrasts and real-world image. © 2003 MAIK “Nauka/Interperiodica”. 1 The question of the importance of phase and amplitude in the Fourier domain has been studied in many publications [1–4]. Ther...