Wavefront shaping for opaque cylindrical lenses

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel wavefront shaping technique using femtosecond laser-written scattering structures to create configurable opaque cylindrical lenses with sub-micron resolution and chromatic correction, enhancing optical imaging capabilities.

Contribution

It presents a new method for fabricating customizable scattering structures that function as opaque lenses, enabling precise light focusing and extended depth of focus without moving parts.

Findings

Achieved sub-micron light-sheet resolution.

Demonstrated chromatic aberration correction.

Created opaque cylindrical lenses from biological structures.

Abstract

Wavefront shaping has revolutionized the concepts of optical imaging and focusing. Contrary to what was believed, strong scattering in the optical paths can be exploited in favor of light focusing through turbid media and ultimately improve optical imaging and light manipulation capabilities. The use of light shapers and appropriately engineered scattering structures, i.e. opaque lenses enables the production of nano-scale confined foci and of extended fields of view. Exploiting this concept we fabricate configurable scattering structures by direct femtosecond laser writing. The properly shaped light trespassing the customized structure, a photonic lattice of parallel rods, forms a light-sheet at user defined positions. We demonstrate that our technique enables light-sheets with sub-micron resolution and extended depth of focus, a significant advantage when compared to the existing free space systems. Moreover, our approach permits to focus light of different wavelengths onto the same defined position without moving any optical element and correcting for chromatic aberrations. Furthermore, we demonstrate how an opaque cylindrical lens can be created using a biological structure, hence unveiling the potential advantages for optical microscopic and mesoscopic imaging.