University of Minnesota

University of Dayton

Novartis Ag

Qiwen Zhan

James R Leger

Mutlu Karakelle

Xin Hong

David L Meadows

Wei Han

Wen Cheng

An ophthalmic lens system comprises a lens body with a curved outer surface and an assembly including a plurality of spaced apart nanostructures. The assembly covers at least a portion of the curved outer surface.

Optical structures with nanostructre features and methods of use and manufacture

A vectorial optical field generator includes a radiation source a modulator surface, a first quarter wave plate, a second quarter wave plate, and an output plane. The radiation source emits an input radiation along a path and the modulator surface is positioned along the path and configured to modulate a phase, an amplitude, a polarization ratio, and a retardation of the input radiation along a fourth area of the modulator surface. The output plane is positioned along the path and receives output radiation resulting from modulating the input radiation with the modulator surface, the first quarter wave plate, and the second quarter wave plate.

Systems and methods for generating complex vectorial optical fields

Special polarization states are generated that have unique focusing properties that may be used to create extremely strong longitudinal fields. Combined with surface plasmon excitation, these polarization states can be used in apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy systems. A radially polarized beam is directed into a plasmon-generating optical fiber comprising a metal coated, tapered, apertureless tip. The apertureless tip excites surface plasmon waves and direct the surface plasmon waves to the tip when a radially polarized beam propagates along the plasmon-generating optical fiber. An objective lens collects the near field optical signals from a sample positioned adjacent to the apertureless. Potential spatial resolution of the apertureless NSOM could reach beyond 10 nm. Such strong field enhancement allows the development of a reliable nano-Raman system that can measure mechanical as well as chemical compositions of samples with resolution beyond 10 nm.

Methods of polarization engineering and their applications

A solid immersion tunneling ellipsometer and methods relating thereto may include a solid immersion apparatus (e.g., a prism or an objective lens in combination with a solid immersion lens) that facilitates optical tunneling and provide information that can be used in the determination of one or more characteristics (e.g., thickness, index of refraction, etc.) of samples (e.g., thin films, ultrathin films, etc.).

Ellipsometry methods and apparatus using solid immersion tunneling

An ellipsometer apparatus and method for use in providing an image of at least a portion of a sample includes an objective lens having a focal plane at which a sample plane of a sample is positioned. Linearly polarized light normal to the sample plane incident on the objective lens is provided, and the incident linearly polarized light is focused onto the sample. At least a portion of the focused incident polarized light is reflected by the sample resulting in reflected light. Spatial filtering is used to modify at least a portion of the incident or the reflected light. An analyzer portion is operable to generate polarization information based on the reflected light.

Imaging ellipsometry

An ellipsometer and ellipsometry method uses radial symmetry. For example, circularly polarized light may be focused to a spot on a sample using an objective lens and reflected therefrom. A radially symmetric ellipsometric signal based on the reflected light and representative of at least one characteristic of the sample may be attained using a radially symmetric analyzer apparatus, e.g., a pure Polarization rotator such as two half wave plates and a radially symmetric analyzer such as a birefringent lens.

Growing community of inventors

Centerville, OH, United States of America

Qiwen Zhan