复合式多点测量速度干涉仪光学系统设计

为满足爆炸冲击作用下物质界面的速度测量需求,设计了一种复合式多点测量的速度干涉仪。采用物方和像方双远心光路,将光纤阵列出射的照明激光定点投射到待测物面上,实现了针状滴注式照明,充分利用了照明激光能量,且保证了待测物面在运动过程中具有恒定的照度。成像系统像面采用末端为大芯径的锥形光纤接收信号光,既保证了物面运动过程中信号光与光纤的有效耦合,又保证了信号的单模输出,以便进入单模光纤马赫-曾德干涉仪进行差频干涉。采用具有微小楔角、沿直径方向镀矩形带状45°反射膜的反射镜,将照明光路与成像光路同轴,并校正了成像系统的大量像散。该干涉测量系统在物面运动10mm的行程中,物面滴注式照明照度保持恒定,像面光斑大小没有超出大芯径的光纤芯径。此光学系统能够满足爆炸冲击界面的大行程速度测量需求。     

Even illumination in total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy using laser light

In modern fluorescence microscopy, lasers are a widely used source of light, both for imaging in total internal reflection and epi-illumination modes. In wide-field imaging, scattering of highly coherent laser light due to imperfections in the light path typically leads to nonuniform illumination of the specimen, compromising image analysis. We report the design and construction of an objective-launch total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy system with excellent evenness of specimen illumination achieved by azimuthal rotation of the incoming illuminating laser beam. The system allows quick and precise changes of the incidence angle of the laser beam and thus can also be used in an epifluorescence mode.     

一种滚转角和直线度同步干涉测量方法的研究

提出一种用于精密线性位移台滚转角和运动直线度同步测量的激光外差干涉系统。该干涉系统由一个Koster棱镜、角隅棱镜、分光镜、1/2波片、直角棱镜、1/4波片以及楔面棱镜和楔面反射镜组成。楔面棱镜作为测量运动直线度和滚转角的传感器固定在线性导轨上,当双频激光器的光射入干涉系统中后,形成空间对称的六光束测量信号。空间结构对称、系统共光路的特点使光学分辨率比普通的迈克尔逊干涉仪高一倍,光程死区达到最小。系统稳定性好,抗环境干扰能力强。光路对称使得增加或减小的光程变化相同,其他自由度引起的光程变化相互抵消,仅有运动直线度和滚转角的变化可以进入光程差,有效地排除其他自由度及阿贝误差的串扰,实现高精密测量。试验证明相互平行且不同频率的两束光在同一反射系统中发生运动直线度偏移和滚转角变化时,通过两束光携带的不同相位信息能直接得到运动直线度和滚转角的变化值。它不需要一条与行程同样长度的大反射镜作参考便能够实现高分辨率测量,简单实用,可直接溯源米定义。     

Short note on parallel illumination in the TEM

Parallel illumination conditions are required for several experiments in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The image rotation induced by the helical trajectory of electrons passing through the magnetic field of the TEM lenses inevitably induces an inclination of the beam relative to the optical axis in the object plane--even for an electron which travels parallel to the optical axis in the far field. This angle (shear angle) is vectorially added to the convergence angle; it depends both on the distance to the optical axis and the magnetic field. By using a beam tilt compensation method, the minimum shear angle is found to be of the order of 1 mrad for a field of view of 2 microm in a 200 kV TEM. In practice, "parallel illumination" can only be obtained for fields of view 1 microm.     

A method for producing hollow cone illumination electronically in the conventional transmission microscope.

An electronic device manipulates the primary beam in the conventional transmission microscope to produce a hollow cone of illumination with its apex located at the specimen. The device uses the existing tilt coils of the microscope, and modulates the D.C. signals to both x and y tilt directions simultaneously with various waveforms to produce Lissajous figures in the back-focal plane of the objective lens. Electron diffraction patterns can be recorded which reflect the manner in which the direct beam is tilted during exposure of a micrograph. In the bright-field imaging mode the device provides a microscope transfer function without zeros in all spatial directions and has been used to obtain high resolution images which are also free from the effect of chromatic aberration. A standard second condenser aperture is employed and the width of the cone annulus is readily controlled by defocusing the second condenser lens. The cone azimuthal angle is also controlled electronically; hence the device can also be used in the dark-field imaging mode. This device has been applied to imaging both amorphous and crystalline materials including biomolecular specimens.     

Rotationally Tunable Two-Beam Interferometer with a Fixed Photosensitive Element. Part II. Interferometer Based on a Beam-Splitter Unit

A tunable (in terms of the angle of convergence of intersecting light beams) two-beam interferometer with fixed mirrors and a fixed photosensitive element is considered. The photosensitive element is based on a symmetric beam-splitter unit where tuning of the interference pattern period is ensured by only one type of motion: interferometer rotation with respect to the motionless source of the collimated light beam. It is demonstrated that the period can be controlled in this way for convergence angles from 30 to 180° for beams with diameters of 10% or more of the beam-splitter unit length. In this region, the greatest width of the range of convergence angle tuning can exceed 40°, and the admissible beam diameter approaches 40% of the beam-splitter unit length. Comparisons with a similar interferometer based on a beam-splitter cube are performed, and possible areas of application of the considered interferometer are determined.     

基于532nm半导体激光器的远距离传输准直实验分析

由于半导体激光器发出的光束发散角度较大,并且是不对称的(在垂直的两个方向上发出光束的发散角度不同)。因此,在用它来做一些实际的应用时,通常需要准直或再聚焦系统来进行校正。扩束镜因其结构简单、材料便宜以及加工容易而在半导体激光束准直领域获得较多的应用。文中就是在利用半导体激光器进行远距离目标瞄准的应用背景之下,采用扩束镜与532nm半导体激光器衔接的方法对出射的激光光束进行准直,以达到一定的技术参数要求。     

基于532nm半导体激光器的远距离传输高精度准直系统设计

半导体激光器在军事、工业、医学等许多方面有着重要的应用前景,但由于半导体激光器输出光束具有较大的发散角,因而在几乎所有要求较高的应用领域中,其输出光束都必须通过特殊的光学系统进行准直。扩束镜因其结构简单、材料便宜以及加工容易而在半导体激光束准直领域获得较多的应用。     

A simple method for checking the illumination profile in a laser scanning microscope and the dependence of resolution on this profile

One of the conditions for a laser scanning microscope to reach its optimal performance is for it to operate at its full numerical aperture (NA). In most commonly used systems, the illumination intensity at the back focal plane of the objective lens is apodized. This paper presents a simple method using a photodiode for checking the actual illumination intensity profile. We show as an example the measured profiles of a laser beam when working with two high-NA immersion objectives in two different confocal systems, and also show that in theoretical studies of the point-spread function, the assumption of a flat compared with a truncated Gaussian beam profile gives rise to severe discrepancies. The measured profiles also serve as an indication of the necessity of a realignment of the optical system.     

A three-channel polarointerferometer for diagnostics of magnetic fields in high-temperature plasma

A polarointerferometer designed for studying magnetic fields in high-temperature laser or electricdischarge plasma with the method of measuring the Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization of a probing laser beam is described. The instrument’s optical system allows three—shadow, polarization, and interference—images of an object to be formed in a single diagnostic channel, thereby making it possible to record plasma images using only one digital camera.     

高精密滚转角测量干涉仪

现有的各种激光干涉仪可以方便地测量围绕垂直于直线位移方向的两个转角偏移,但是对于围绕运动轴的滚转角偏移,特别是对于大行程运动,缺乏有效的测量方法。针对各种高精密直线运动定位装置,设计一个新型的差分平面干涉仪,并采用一个楔面棱镜和楔面反射镜,组合成为一个几何空间对称四光路系统,构成新型的高精密滚转角激光干涉测量仪。它不需要与行程同长的大反射参考镜,但同样能实现高分辨率,而且简便实用,可以直接溯源米定义。试验证明,几何空间对称四光路滚转角干涉测量仪能够有效地排除其他自由度运动的干扰,利用它可以快速高效地测量各种精密直线位移运动的滚转角。使用普通的2π/360细分相位计,测量分辨率为1.1″,若使用2π/36 000的高精密细分相位计,滚转角的测量分辨率可达到0.01″。     

A Bloch wave analysis of optical sectioning in aberration-corrected STEM

The reduction in the focal depth of field that occurs through the use of larger apertures in aberration-corrected STEM allows three-dimensional information to be retrieved by optical depth sectioning. This paper explores depth sectioning in zone-axis crystals using Bloch wave calculations. By decomposing the calculation into the contribution from individual states and from individual partial plane waves in the convergent cone of illumination, we explain the form of the electron intensity in the crystal as a function of depth. Two separate effects are found that can cause the intensity maximum to deviate from that of the expected defocus value. Firstly it is found that the unbound, high angle excited states give rise to a behaviour similar to that of the probe focusing in the vacuum, but with a prefocusing effect due to the lensing effect of the potential of the atomic column. Superimposed upon this prefocused peak is an oscillation due to interference between the channelling 1s state and the rest of the wavefunction. This oscillation can actually prevent an intensity maximum being formed at certain depths in the crystal, and will complicate the interpretation of optical sectioning data.     

Formation of variable-spatial frequency interference patterns with the use of birefringent crystal prisms for laser Fourier spectroscopy

Splitting of orthogonally polarized radiation components at the exit of birefringent crystal prisms (BCPs) having a special structure and fabricated from uniaxial Iceland spar crystals is studied by the vector analysis method. For these prisms, the angle of splitting between the ordinary (o) and extraordinary (e) beams at the BCP exit depends linearly on the angle of incidence of a collimated laser beam onto the BCP entrance face. This dependence has the maximum slope only for two fixed orientations of the optical axis vectors a ₁ and a ₂ in both crystal wedges (BCP components). As a result of interference of polarized o- and e-waves, a straight-line interference pattern with a controlled and smoothly changed spatial frequency in the range from 0 to 125 periods/mm can be formed directly at the BCP exit. The BCP ability to form a sinusoidal interference pattern with the modulation depth not lower than 30% and with a varied spatial frequency at the aperture up to 30 mm makes it possible to use the BCP as a basis for creating a compact static Fourier spectrometer with the ultimate theoretical resolution λ/Δλ up to ∼2000.     

Non-Contact Triangulation Measurement of Distances to Mirror Surfaces

Metrological analysis of triangulation laser sensors for measuring distance to mirror surfaces was performed. Theoretical and experimental studies have established that the measurement range of distance depends on the angle of incidence of the laser beam, and the main factor that affects the measurement accuracy is the rotation of the sensor in the plane of incidence. A non-contact sensor for measuring distance to liquid surfaces which provides signaling upon reaching a prescribed value is designed. An overview of triangulation measurement systems is given.     

极坐标激光直写系统光轴和转轴对准的光栅反射对准法

提出一种光栅反射对准法:在极坐标激光直写系统中利用光栅反射聚焦光斑来校准光轴和工件台的转动轴;被光栅反射的聚焦光斑成像在CCD上。当聚焦透镜的光轴和工件台的转动轴存在对准误差时,如果转动光栅,激光光斑将在光栅上扫描出一个圆形轨迹。通过观测这个轨迹,能估算出光轴和转轴的对准误差并相应地做出调整减小对准误差。采用光栅反射法,现将光轴和转轴的对准误差减少到小于0.5μm。     

Interference of polarized waves at the exit of crystal prisms and their use to control the wavefront flatness

A theoretical and experimental study was performed of the interference of polarized e- and o-waves generated by passing a laser beam (collimated, convergent or divergent) through a variable-splitting-angle birefringent prism (VSABP) with inclined optical axes in the crystalline components of the prism. The VSABP-2 modification is suitable for measuring the radius of curvature of the incident wavefront from the deflection of interference fringes. This prism was used to develop an interferometric device for controlling the degree of divergence/convergence of laser radiation and a wavefront sensor for diagnosing flat wavefronts.     

基于单目视觉的激光光束方向标定研究

在由激光位移传感器组成的测量系统中,激光光束的方向是一个关键参数.方位角和俯仰角对于一条激光光束是最为重要的两个参数.本文中提出一种基于单目视觉的激光光束方向测量方法.首先,将CCD相机放置于基础平面上方,保持相机光轴与基础平面接近于垂直状态,并利用误差为10μm的圆孔型标定板建立单目定位模型.然后将激光光束发生装置放置在基础平面上并保持位置固定,同时在基础平面上放置特制靶块,使激光光束可以投射到靶块斜面上并形成一个激光光斑.在基础平面上方放置的CCD相机可以清晰的采集到激光光斑、靶块斜面的图像,应用相关算法提取出光斑质心的二维图像坐标.沿激光光束方向以相等间距移动靶块,通过CCD相机采集每移动一次靶块在当前位置下的光斑、靶块图像.利用相关的转换公式,结合靶块本身固有参数,将光斑质心图像二维坐标转换为基础平面下的空间三维坐标.由于靶块的移动,会得到靶块不同位置下激光光斑质心的三维坐标,将这些三维坐标拟合成空间直线表征待测激光光束.拟合直线得俯仰角即为待测激光光束的俯仰角.实验中,应用高精度仪器对靶块参数进行测定,并使用高精度标定板标定相机内外参数建立相应的定位模型.测量精度主要通过单目视觉定位精度、光斑重心提取精度来保证.结果显示,待测光束的俯角最大误差达到0.02°,光束间夹角的最大误差为0.04°.     

Contrast enhancement of negatively stained macromolecules and biomembranes by single sideband phase contrast interference.

A straightforward procedure is described for the production of contrast enhancement of negatively stained macromolecules and biological membranes by single sideband phase contrast interference (electron optical shadowing). The instrumental adjustment required to produce this type of phase contrast illumination is readily achieved by beam deflection from the strioscopic (dark field) mode. Part of the hollow cone of electrons from the annular condenser aperture that are unscattered by the specimen are permitted to pass through the objective aperture and interfere with the scattered beam. The electron optical shadowing effect is produced because only one side of the unscattered beam is used. Careful adjustment of the beam tilt control, with the ability to tilt in any azimuth, allows optimal illumination conditions to be achieved. The results presented show the increased image contrast obtained using as specimens the purified cylindrical macromolecule from human erythrocyte membranes, purified nuclear envelopes and collagen fibres.     

Basic building units and properties of a fluorescence single plane illumination microscope

The critical issue of all fluorescence microscopes is the efficient use of the fluorophores, i.e., to detect as many photons from the excited fluorophores as possible, as well as to excite only the fluorophores that are in focus. This issue is addressed in EMBL's implementation of a light sheet based microscope [single plane illumination microscope (SPIM)], which illuminates only the fluorophores in the focal plane of the detection objective lens. The light sheet is a beam that is collimated in one and focused in the other direction. Since no fluorophores are excited outside the detectors' focal plane, the method also provides intrinsic optical sectioning. The total number of observable time points can be improved by several orders of magnitude when compared to a confocal fluorescence microscope. The actual improvement factor depends on the number of planes acquired and required to achieve a certain signal to noise ratio. A SPIM consists of five basic units, which address (1) light detection, (2) illumination of the specimen, (3) generation of an appropriate beam of light, (4) translation and rotation of the specimen, and finally (5) control of different mechanical and electronic parts, data collection, and postprocessing of the data. We first describe the basic building units of EMBL's SPIM and its most relevant properties. We then cover the basic principles underlying this instrument and its unique properties such as the efficient usage of the fluorophores, the reduced photo toxic effects, the true optical sectioning capability, and the excellent axial resolution. We also discuss how an isotropic resolution can be achieved. The optical setup, the control hardware, and the control scheme are explained in detail. We also describe some less obvious refinements of the basic setup that result in an improved performance. The properties of the instrument are demonstrated by images of biological samples that were imaged with one of EMBL's SPIMs.     

An optical lever by using a mode-locked laser for angle measurement

A new concept of optical lever for angle measurement having an extended angular measurement range with a mode-locked laser as the light source, which is significantly extended from the conventional photodiode (PD)-type optical levers with a single frequency laser, is proposed. In the proposed concept, a collimated laser beam of the mode-locked laser is made incident to a grating reflector to generate a group of first-order diffracted beams from the grating reflector. Differing from a conventional PD-type optical lever employing a laser beam with a single frequency as the light source, the angle measurement range can be significantly expanded for the sake of the group of widely-spread first-order diffracted beams. In addition, the proposed optical lever has a potential of assuring the traceability of angle measurement by linking it to the optical frequency comb based on the mode-locked laser, which is employed as the national standard of time and frequency. In this paper, as a first step of this research, a mode-locked femtosecond laser is employed as the light source of the proposed optical lever. To distinguish each of the first-order diffracted beams generated with the combination of the mode-locked femtosecond laser and the diffraction grating having a grating period of 1.67 μm, a Fabry-Pérot etalon is employed in the setup of the optical lever to modulate the distance between two neighboring beams in the group of first-order diffracted beams. Experimental setups are developed, and basic experiments are carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed optical lever.