Characterization of focusing grating couplers for telecom wavelengths in the first and second diffraction order

In this work we studied how focusing grating couplers, developed for telecommunication C-band wavelength range, can be applied in the near infrared range. In the paper we presented prospects of usage of both first and second diffraction maxima of theoretically computed diffraction grating couplers for photonic aims. The dependence of the central wavelength of the grating on the etching depth of the photonic layer, on the period and filling factor of the grating was studied. We have compared our experimental results with numerical study, performed using finite elements method of solving differential equations. The work is important for different photonic applications and introduces new prospects in application of the already fabricated devices, developed for telecommunication wavelengths.

Spectral monitoring at SwissFEL using a high-resolution on-line hard X-ray single-shot spectrometer

The performance and parameters of the online photon single-shot spectrometer (PSSS) at the Aramis beamline of the SwissFEL free-electron laser are presented. The device operates between the photon energies 4 and 13 keV and uses diamond transmission gratings and bent Si crystals for spectral measurements on the first diffraction order of the beam. The device has an energy window of 0.7% of the median photon energy of the free-electron laser pulses and a spectral resolution (full width at half-maximum) ΔE/E on the order of 10−5. The device was characterized by comparing its performance with reference data from synchrotron sources, and a parametric study investigated other effects that could affect the reliability of the spectral information.

Multifunctional Gratings for Multiband Spatial Filtering, Retroreflection, Splitting and Demultiplexing Based on C2 Symmetric Photonic Crystals

The concept of multifunctional reflection-mode gratings based on rod-type photonic crystals with C2 symmetry is introduced and examined. The specific modal properties lead to the vanishing dependence of the first-negative-order maximum on the angle of incidence within a wide range, and the nearly sinusoidal redistribution of the incident-wave energy between zero order (specular reflection) and first negative diffraction order (deflection) at frequency variation that are the key features enabling various functionalities in one structure and functionality merging. The elementary functionalities offered by the studied structures, of which multifunctional scenarios can be designed, include but are not restricted to multiband spatial filtering, multiband splitting, and demultiplexing. The proposed structures are shown to be capable in multifunctional operation in case of an obliquely incident polychromatic wave. The generalized demultiplexing is demonstrated for the case when several polychromatic wavesare incident at different angles. The same deflection properties yield multiband splitting, and merging demultiplexing and splitting functionalties in one functionality, which may contribute to various multifunctional scenarios. The proposed gratings arealso studied in transmissive configuration.

Synthesis of highly efficient multilayer dielectric diffraction gratings for spectral combining of laser beams

Статья посвящена синтезу многослойных диэлектрических отражательных дифракционных решеток, с высокой эффективностью обеспечивающих спектральное сложение пучков с различной длиной волны в заданном дифракционном порядке. Приводятся результаты решения задачи синтеза многослойных диэлектрических дифракционных решеток, обеспечивающих спектральное сложение в первом или минус первом порядке дифракции. Кроме того, решается задача синтеза для таких решеток с учетом возможных технологических ограничений на высоту профиля (глубину травления). Решение задачи синтеза проводится путем минимизации зависящего от параметров решетки целевого функционала методом Нелдера-Мида. Решение прямой задачи на каждом шаге минимизации осуществляется при помощи комбинации неполного метода Галеркина и метода матриц рассеяния. The paper is devoted to the synthesis of multilayer dielectric reflection diffraction gratings providing high-efficiency spectral combining of the beams with different wavelengths in a given diffraction order. The results are presented for solving the synthesis problems for multilayer dielectric diffraction gratings providing spectral combining in the first or minus first diffraction order. Besides, the synthesis problem for such gratings is solved with account taken of possible technological constraints imposed by the height of the grating profile (etch depth). The solution of the synthesis problem is obtained by means of Nelder-Mead minimization of the merit function depending on the grating parameters. At each minimization step the direct problem is solved using a combination of the incomplete Galerkin method and scattering matrix method.

Update on CO2 and temperature profiles retrievals from NOMAD-SO on board ExoMars TGO

<ul> <li>The SO channel of the NOMAD instrument</li> </ul> <p>The NOMAD-SO channel [1] is an infrared spectrometer working in the 2.2 to 4.3 µm spectral range (2200-4500 cm<sup>-1</sup>) and started to perform solar occultation measurement on April 21, 2018. The instrument is composed of an echelle grating coupled to an Acousto-Optical Tunable Filter for the diffraction order selection. As TGO is on a quasi-circular orbit at around 400 km of altitude, it performs one orbit every two hours. During a solar occultation measurement, SO scans six diffraction orders each second. These diffraction orders are recorded on four bins leading to a vertical sampling lower than one km. The calibration of the SO channel is described in [2] and is still being fine-tuned.</p> <ul> <li>CO<sub>2</sub> density and temperature profiles retrievals</li> </ul> <p>Several diffraction orders probe different altitude ranges as they contain CO<sub>2</sub> lines with different intensities that appear and saturate at different altitudes. Correct temperature profiles are necessary for the retrieval of several species and the profiles have to be carefully retrieved as their inversion is very sensitive to noise. We use the following retrieval scheme:</p> <p>For each solar occultation measurement, we derive a slant column profile of CO<sub>2</sub> using ASIMUT-ALVL [3]. ASIMUT is a radiative transfer program developed at BIRA-IASB and uses the Optimal Estimation Method for regularization [4]. The GEM-Mars GCM provides the <em>a priori</em> profiles of CO<sub>2</sub> local density, pressure and temperature. We then apply an iterated Tikhonov regularization to derive a regularized local density profile using an improved version of the algorithm described in [5]. This method requires the selection of a regularization parameter to reduce as much as possible the presence of noise in the profile while keeping the real variations. This retrieval scheme allows a fine-tuning of the reguralization parameter. We finally apply the hydrostatic equilibrium equation to derive the temperature profiles [6]. We derived the NOMAD-SO CO<sub>2</sub> and temperature profiles for MY34 and 35.</p>

Optical detection of values of separate aberrations using a multi-channel filter matched with phase Zernike functions

The use of a multichannel wavefront sensor matched with phase Zernike functions to determine the type and magnitude of aberration in the analyzed wavefront is investigated. The approach is based on stepwise compensation of wavefront aberrations based on a dynamically tunable spatial light modulator. As criteria for successful detection, not only the magnitude of the correlation peak, but also the maximum intensity, compactness, and orientation of the distribution in each diffraction order are considered. On the basis of numerical simulation, the efficiency of the proposed approach is shown for detecting both weak and strong (up to a wavelength) wavefront aberrations.

Optical detection of values of separate aberrations using a multi-channel filter matched with phase Zernike functions

The use of a multichannel wavefront sensor matched with phase Zernike functions to determine the type and magnitude of aberration in the analyzed wavefront is investigated. The approach is based on stepwise compensation of wavefront aberrations based on a dynamically tunable spatial light modulator. As criteria for successful detection, not only the magnitude of the correlation peak, but also the maximum intensity, compactness, and orientation of the distribution in each diffraction order are considered. On the basis of numerical simulation, the efficiency of the proposed approach is shown for detecting both weak and strong (up to a wavelength) wavefront aberrations.

Microstructural design for mechanical–optical multifunctionality in the exoskeleton of the flower beetle Torynorrhina flammea

Biological systems have a remarkable capability of synthesizing multifunctional materials that are adapted for specific physiological and ecological needs. When exploring structure–function relationships related to multifunctionality in nature, it can be a challenging task to address performance synergies, trade-offs, and the relative importance of different functions in biological materials, which, in turn, can hinder our ability to successfully develop their synthetic bioinspired counterparts. Here, we investigate such relationships between the mechanical and optical properties in a multifunctional biological material found in the highly protective yet conspicuously colored exoskeleton of the flower beetle, Torynorrhina flammea. Combining experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches, we demonstrate that a micropillar-reinforced photonic multilayer in the beetle’s exoskeleton simultaneously enhances mechanical robustness and optical appearance, giving rise to optical damage tolerance. Compared with plain multilayer structures, stiffer vertical micropillars increase stiffness and elastic recovery, restrain the formation of shear bands, and enhance delamination resistance. The micropillars also scatter the reflected light at larger polar angles, enhancing the first optical diffraction order, which makes the reflected color visible from a wider range of viewing angles. The synergistic effect of the improved angular reflectivity and damage localization capability contributes to the optical damage tolerance. Our systematic structural analysis of T. flammea’s different color polymorphs and parametric optical and mechanical modeling further suggest that the beetle’s microarchitecture is optimized toward maximizing the first-order optical diffraction rather than its mechanical stiffness. These findings shed light on material-level design strategies utilized in biological systems for achieving multifunctionality and could thus inform bioinspired material innovations.