We present a linear analysis and numerical simulations of the instability of optical vortex solitons (OVSs) of arbitrary topological charge. They show a rich variety of instability scenarios depending on the type of perturbation. The saturation of the nonlinearity is shown to be able to slow down the decay of multiple charged dark beams at an intermediate evolution stage and to prevent their ul...

In this paper, we present a summary of the main properties and difficulties when performing the characterization, the measurement, the identification and the control of systems dedicated to the micro/nano-world.

In this paper, we consider the track-following control problem in the optical data storage systems in the presence of the eccentricity. The eccentricity results in the radial deviation of the objective lens so that it degrades the reliability of the data decoding system. To cope with the eccentricity, an adaptive disturbance compensation technique is newly proposed in the time domain based on a...

Computer-generated holograms displayed by phase-modulating spatial light modulators have become a well-established tool for beam shaping purposes in holographic optical tweezers. Still, the generation of light intensity patterns with high spatial symmetry and simultaneously without interfering ghost traps is a challenge. We have implemented an iterative Fourier transform algorithm that is capab...

The fore-optics of the present instrument will be installed on a side of the optical Instrument Selector Box. Inside the ISB, a moveable pick-off mirror deviates the light towards the foreoptics, at 90 from the beam coming from M3. When the mirror is off, the light enters the High Throughput Spectrograph, in construction at UNC. An ADC (Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector) and a Calibration Lamps ...

We present the first three-dimensional (3D) data sets recorded using optical coherence elastography (OCE). Uni-axial strain rate was measured on human skin in vivo using a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system providing >450 times higher line rate than previously reported for in vivo OCE imaging. Mechanical excitation was applied at a frequency of 125 Hz using a ring actuato...

Optical complex fields have attracted increasing interests because of the novel effects and phenomena arising from the spatially inhomogeneous state of polarizations and optical singularities of the light beam. In this work, we propose a spiral blade plasmonic vortex lens (SBPVL) that offers unique opportunities to manipulate these novel fields. The strong interaction between the SBPVL and the ...

Holographic optical traps use the forces exerted by computer-generated holograms to trap, move and otherwise transform mesoscopically textured materials. This article introduces methods for optimizing holographic optical traps' efficiency and accuracy, and an optimal statistical approach for characterizing their performance. This combination makes possible real-time adaptive optimization.

Optical tweezers use focused laser light to manipulate microscopic particles. We discuss the underlying physics of the technique in terms of a gradient force exerted by the light on the particles. The versatility of optical tweezers is highlighted, in particular, we explain how spatial light modulators and various imaging methods have greatly enhanced their range of applications.

Optical traps have shown to be a flexible and powerful tool for 3D manipulations on the microscale. However, when it comes to sensitive measurements of particle displacements and forces thorough calibration procedures are required, which can be already demanding for trapped spheres. For asymmetric structures, with more complicated shapes, such as helical bacteria, novel calibration schemes need...