Basic Polarization Techniques and Devices
Meadowlark Optics Basic Polarization Techniques and Devices © 2005 Meadowlark Optics, Inc. This application note briefly describes polarized light, retardation and a few of the tools used to manipulate the polarization state of light. Also included are descriptions of basic component combinations that provide common light manipulation tools such as optical isolators, light attenuators, polarization […]
Compact Optical Beam Scanner
Geometric-phase microscopy (GPM) uses changes in the phase of light passing through biological specimens to yield high-resolution and high-contrast images, instead of relying on the attenuation of light used conventionally. Polarization optics and a spatial light modulator generate spatially variant polarization states of light that interact with the sample, creating a relative phase shift between transmitted and reflected light waves. By analyzing the phase information, GPM can reveal details not visible with other microscopy techniques. GPM is an effective non-invasive tool for live cell and tissue studies, with potential to enhance biological systems knowledge.
Inouye Solar Telescope
Meadowlark Optics The National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), located on the island of Maui, Hawaii, stands as the largest solar telescope globally. It’s dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the Sun’s explosive phenomena, with a primary focus on observing magnetic fields. Recently Meadowlark built an optic called Andre as well as […]
Bose-Einstein Condensation in Alkali Vapors
Meadowlark Optics “The Bose-Einstein Condensate” is a groundbreaking achievement in the field of physics, for which Eric A. Cornell, Carl E. Wieman, and Wolfgang Ketterle were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001. It marks a significant milestone in our understanding of quantum mechanics and the behavior of matter at extremely low temperatures. Some […]
Geometric-Phase Microscopy for Quantitative Phase Imaging of Isotropic, Birefringent and Space-Variant Polarization Samples
Geometric-phase microscopy (GPM) uses changes in the phase of light passing through biological specimens to yield high-resolution and high-contrast images, instead of relying on the attenuation of light used conventionally. Polarization optics and a spatial light modulator generate spatially variant polarization states of light that interact with the sample, creating a relative phase shift between transmitted and reflected light waves. By analyzing the phase information, GPM can reveal details not visible with other microscopy techniques. GPM is an effective non-invasive tool for live cell and tissue studies, with potential to enhance biological systems knowledge.
A Programmable Beam Shaping System for Tailoring the Profile of High Fluence Laser Beams
Summary Customized spatial light modulators (SLMs) are revolutionizing beam shaping for high-energy fusion-class laser systems. Designed for precision optical control, these modulators are strategically placed in a low-fluence relay plane to introduce programmable beam obscurations, mitigating potential damage from small optical component flaws that could otherwise limit system performance. This two-stage system employs 1920 × […]
Sensorless Adaptive Optics for Multimode Optical Fibre Endo-Microscopy
Summary Diffraction-limited one-photon fluorescence microscopy of deep brain regions in vivo has recently been demonstrated through multimode optical fibres (MMF) [1,2], a promising approach in adaptive optics microscopy and biological imaging. An essential component of such microscopy adaptive optics systems is a spatial light modulator, a widely used adaptive optics component. Wavefront shaping is indeed […]
An open source three-mirror laser scanning holographic two-photon lithography system.
Summary Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a leading technique for fabricating 2D and 3D nanostructures with sub-diffraction-limit features. This study introduces an open-hardware, open-software holographic multibeam TPP system featuring a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) and a three-mirror scan head. The novel three-reflective surface design—with two mirrors scanning along the same axis—resolves virtual conjugation loss in […]
Revealing architectural order with quantitative label-free imaging and deep learning
Summary We report quantitative label-free imaging with phase and polarization (QLIPP) for simultaneous measurement of density, anisotropy, and orientation of structures in unlabeled live cells and tissue slices, using advanced image processing techniques. We combine QLIPP with deep neural networks and machine learning models to predict fluorescence images of diverse cell and tissue structures, enhancing […]
Rapid learning of neural circuitry from holographic ensemble stimulation enabled by model-based compressed sensing
Summary Discovering how neural computations are implemented in the cortex at the level of monosynaptic connectivity requires probing for the existence of synapses from possibly thousands of presynaptic candidate neurons. Two-photon optogenetics has been shown to be a promising technology for mapping such monosynaptic connections via serial stimulation of neurons with single-cell resolution. However, this […]
