Understanding and correcting wavenumber error in interference pattern structured illumination imaging.

The impacts of uncertainty in mirror movements in mechanically scanned interference pattern structured illumination imaging (IPSII) are discussed. It is shown that uncertainty in IPSII mirror movements causes errors in both the phase and amplitude of the Fourier transform of the resulting imaging. Finally, we demonstrate that iterative phase retrieval algorithms can improve the quality of IPSII images by correcting the phase errors caused by mirror movement uncertainties.

Laser wavelength metrology with low-finesse etalons and Bayer filters.

We present a wavelength meter with picometer-scale resolution based on etaloning effects of inexpensive glass slides and the built-in color filters of a consumer grade CMOS camera. After calibrating the device to a commercial meter, we tested the device's calibration stability using two tunable visible lasers for a period of over 16 days. The wavelength error over that entire period has a standard deviation of 5.

Magneto-Optical Trap Field Characterization with the Directional Hanle Effect.

We demonstrate the use of spatial emission patterns to measure magnetic fields. The directional aspect of the Hanle effect gives a direct, visual presentation of the magnetic fields, in which brighter fluorescence indicates larger fields. It can be used to determine the direction as well as the magnitude of the field.

Mechanically scanned interference pattern structured illumination imaging.

We present a fully lensless single pixel imaging technique using mechanically scanned interference patterns. The method uses only simple, flat optics; no lenses, curved mirrors, or acousto-optics are used in pattern formation or detection. The resolution is limited by the numerical aperture of the angular access to the object, with a fundamental limit of a quarter wavelength and no fundamental limit on working distance.

Light splitting with imperfect wave plates.

We discuss the use of wave plates with arbitrary retardances, in conjunction with a linear polarizer, to split linearly polarized light into two linearly polarized beams with an arbitrary splitting fraction. We show that for non-ideal wave plates, a much broader range of splitting ratios is typically possible when a pair of wave plates, rather than a single wave plate, is used. We discuss the maximum range of splitting fractions possible with one or two wave plates as a function of the wave plate retardances, and how to align the wave plates to achieve the maximum splitting range possible when simply rotating one of the wave plates while keeping the other one fixed.