François Hénault , Yan Feng , Alain Spang , Laura Schreiber
{"title":"Quantitative wavefront sensing with static Foucault and pyramid tests","authors":"François Hénault , Yan Feng , Alain Spang , Laura Schreiber","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wavefront sensors (WFS) are now core components in the fields of metrology of optical systems, biomedical optics and adaptive optics systems for astronomy. Nowadays, the most popular WFS is the Shack-Hartmann, which is fully static but suffers from a limited spatial resolution in the pupil plane of the tested optical system. Higher spatial resolutions are achievable with other types of sensors, e.g. the pyramid WFS that requires temporal modulation of the recorded signals and implies high mechanical and electronic complexity. This paper examines the possibility of performing quantitative wavefront sensing inspired from the well-known Foucault test and only comprising static, non-modulated optical components. Here, two candidate designs of static WFS are proposed, based on a set of reflective prisms. Those prisms may be coated with gradient density filters. A simplified mathematical model allows for the definition of the wavefront slopes reconstruction formula and for the calculation of the wavefront itself. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the wavefront measurement accuracy is compliant with classical diffraction limit criteria when using coated prisms. Thus accurate WFE measurements are feasible in that case.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132094"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huihui Ma , Cuihong Jin , Ting Wang , Wei Ge , Ke Dai , Yue Chen , Ding Mao , Zichuan Yuan , Yusheng Zhang , Daru Chen
{"title":"Generation of dissipative soliton resonance with reverse saturable absorption in anomalous-dispersion fiber lasers","authors":"Huihui Ma , Cuihong Jin , Ting Wang , Wei Ge , Ke Dai , Yue Chen , Ding Mao , Zichuan Yuan , Yusheng Zhang , Daru Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, we experimentally investigate the generation of dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) pulses in the anomalous dispersion regime, enabled by the reverse saturable absorption (RSA) effect. The RSA effect is achieved by tailoring the saturable absorption characteristics of a single-walled carbon nanotube-polyvinyl alcohol composite film. Our findings indicate that a strong RSA effect can suppress spectral broadening and prevent pulse breakup in a high-gain cavity, facilitating the formation of DSR pulses. At a central wavelength of 1560.3 nm, we obtain rectangular pulses with durations ranging from 0.74 ns to 3.4 ns, achieving a single-pulse energy of 0.139 nJ. Additionally, our results show that the peak power of DSR pulses increases with the saturation power, consistent with observations in the normal dispersion regime. This study highlights the crucial role of the RSA effect in carbon nanotube films for generating DSR pulses, offering valuable insights for the development of high-performance carbon-based fiber lasers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132129"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Finite-size secret key rate analysis of a discrete-modulated continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol for satellite-to-ground fading channel","authors":"Chetan Waghmare, Ashwin Kothari","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantum key distribution via satellite-to-ground communication (SatQKD) holds great promise to enable long-distance quantum secure communication. However, SatQKD systems face significant challenges due to satellite orbital movement, atmospheric losses, fading channel and excess noise. Given these challenges, in this work, we investigate the feasibility of the discrete-modulated continuous-variable QKD (DM-CVQKD) protocol using weak coherent pulses and homodyne detection against collective Gaussian attacks for the low Earth orbit SatQKD applications. We evaluate the atmospheric loss model with respect to the satellite overpass geometry and channel fading effects to determine realistic channel parameters such as transmissivity and excess noise. With these channel parameters, we present the asymptotic secret key rate (ASKR) and finite-size secret key rate (FSKR) analysis and identify operational boundaries across different turbulence regimes in terms of satellite elevation angle, the channel transmissivity and excess noise due to various losses along with the suitable time of execution of the protocol. In particular, at weak turbulence with Rytov variance <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mrow><mi>σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span>, we identify the maximum permissible loss as 9.17 dB and the suitable time of execution of the protocol as 461s per satellite pass. Additionally, we compare the FSKR of the DM-CVQKD protocol with the ASKR of the Gaussian-CVQKD protocol and demonstrate the superior performance of the DM-CVQKD protocol at all turbulence strengths. The results underscore the potential of DM-CVQKD protocol as a robust and practical solution for secure satellite-based quantum key distribution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of nozzle pressure ratio on aero-optical effects in a free-vortex aerodynamic window","authors":"Kaiyou Huang, Lifeng Tian, Hao Ding, Zhixiong Hu, Shuangxu Fu, Senhong Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aero-optical effects during high-speed flight can significantly degrade the accuracy of imaging guidance systems. Compared to conventional solid optical windows, aerodynamic windows demonstrate superior performance in thermal radiation resistance and structural integrity without thermal fracture. In this study, a free-vortex aerodynamic window is designed, and the influence of the nozzle pressure ratio (<em>NPR</em>) on its optical performance under supersonic flight conditions is investigated using steady-state computational fluid dynamics simulations, geometric ray-tracing method, and diffraction theory. The results show that the free-vortex aerodynamic window is capable of cooling the high-temperature airflow on the vehicle surface and preventing the intrusion of ambient atmosphere into the optical cavity. Within the <em>NPR</em> range of 37.97–57.87, the overall wave-front root-mean-square of the optical path difference remains relatively stable (Δ<em>OPD</em><sub><em>rms</em></sub><0.05λ). According to the diffraction results, at lower <em>NPR</em>, the point spread function (PSF) distribution of the distorted beam after diffraction in the far field shows a positional shift of the focal spot and slight energy spread. For <em>NPR</em>≥37.97, the PSF pattern exhibits not only positional shift and energy spread but also a speckle pattern, indicating significant high-order aberrations. These findings provide quantitative criteria for optimizing aerodynamic window designs in supersonic imaging systems, particularly in balancing <em>NPR</em> selection with wavefront error tolerance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132124"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xindan Feng , Yafei Lian , Bin Wang , Jianda Shao , Yuanan Zhao
{"title":"Fluence-dependent laser conditioning enhancement of laser induced damage properties in DKDP crystals","authors":"Xindan Feng , Yafei Lian , Bin Wang , Jianda Shao , Yuanan Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laser conditioning is an effective method to improve the laser damage performance of deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) crystals. In this work, laser conditioning of DKDP crystals using sub-nanosecond lasers at varying fluence were carried out. Systematic comparison of pre- and post-conditioning crystal properties were conducted, including damage density, damage pinpoints morphology, UV transmittance, surface roughness, linear absorption and nonlinear absorption (at 1030 nm, 515 nm and 343 nm) characteristics. The experimental results demonstrated that a certain correlation between the nonlinear absorption properties and laser damage properties of DKDP crystals. After laser conditioning at a maximum fluence of 5.0 J/cm<sup>2</sup>, DKDP exhibited a 30 % reduction in nonlinear absorption and an order-of-magnitude decrease in nanosecond damage density. Specifically, the damage density decreased from 0.088 pp/mm<sup>3</sup> to 0.008 pp/mm<sup>3</sup> for R15 sample and from 0.095 pp/mm<sup>3</sup> to 0.010 pp/mm<sup>3</sup> for R16 sample. Nonlinear absorption analysis indicates the laser-induced modulation of defect states within the crystal's bandgap structure, particularly two defect energy levels located 2.4 eV and 7.2 eV below the conduction band modulated by the laser conditioning process. These findings demonstrate that the nonlinear optical testing is hopefully used as a non-destructive evaluation tool for assessing laser damage resistance across different conditioning protocols and can provide a reference for the laser induced damage mechanism of DKDP crystals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132127"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144312707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiang Li , Qinlang Zhang , Zhenping Yin , Lude Wei , Yang Yi , Yifan Zhou , Yinghao Lun , Xiangyu Dong , Qianyuan Chen , Detlef Müller , Xuan Wang
{"title":"Vortex modulation for spatial separation of coherent and incoherent light in lidar-based underwater detection technology","authors":"Xiang Li , Qinlang Zhang , Zhenping Yin , Lude Wei , Yang Yi , Yifan Zhou , Yinghao Lun , Xiangyu Dong , Qianyuan Chen , Detlef Müller , Xuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We developed the prototype of a vortex lidar system that incorporates a vortex beam generator and a spatial filter in the signal receiver unit. The design and optimization of the key parameters of the prototype were determined through preliminary experiments and the signal-to-noise ratio algorithm. Coherent light and incoherent light can be spatially separated by using vortex modulation and spatial filtering. Both vortex lidar and reference lidar were tested in experiments in which a water tank was used for signal detection. Experimental results show that the return signals acquired with such a vortex lidar from a hard target are weaker in intensity compared to the reference signal (single scattered light + multiple scattered light + background light). Nevertheless, this vortex lidar technique allows for an improved differentiation of the vortex signal (single-scattered light) from background light and multiple-scattered light. The attenuation length (AL), defined as the distance where light intensity decreases to 1/e of its initial value, is used to quantify the target detection range. The maximum detection range for a hard target increases from 10 AL (for the reference lidar) to 14 AL (for the vortex lidar). Furthermore, the target signal intensity measured by the vortex lidar decreases exponentially (according to the Beer–Lambert law) with the distance between the instrument and the underwater target. This result indicates that the vortex signal is dominated by single scattering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132054"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quantum dynamics evolution predicted by the long short-term memory network in the photosystem II reaction center","authors":"Zi-Ran Zhao, Shun-Cai Zhao, Yi-Meng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting future physical behavior from limited theoretical simulation data is an emerging research paradigm driven by the integration of artificial intelligence and quantum physics. In this work, charge transport (CT) behavior was predicted over extended time scales using a deep learning model-the long short-term memory (LSTM) network with an error-threshold training method-in the photosystem II reaction center (PSII-RC). Theoretical simulation data within 8 fs were used to train the modified LSTM network, yielding distinct predictions with differences on the order of <span><math><mrow><mn>1</mn><msup><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> over prolonged periods compared to the training set collection time. The results highlight the potential of LSTM to uncover the underlying physics governing CT beyond conventional quantum physical methods. These findings explores the possibility of a physics research paradigm that predicts future events with limited data. (<span><span>Original codes in Supplement information</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuchang Liu, Du Li, Chengmao He, Yulun Zhao, Yadong Yue, Yongchuan Dang, Kun Liang, Li Yu
{"title":"High-efficiency third-harmonic generation enabled by merging bound states in the continuum","authors":"Yuchang Liu, Du Li, Chengmao He, Yulun Zhao, Yadong Yue, Yongchuan Dang, Kun Liang, Li Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultracompact third-harmonic generation (THG) devices are critical for integrated photonics, nonlinear sensing, ultrafast optical modulation and more. However, conventional systems based on silicon or lithium niobate suffer from severe radiative losses in resonant modes, fundamentally limiting THG efficiency to below <span><math><msup><mrow><mn>10</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>6</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> even under gigawatt-level pump intensities. Recently, the system based on isolated bound states in the continuum (BIC) have shown that THG efficiency can be enhanced to <span><math><msup><mrow><mn>10</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>, but it remains at a relatively low level. Here, we propose a strategy to significantly enhance third-harmonic generation (THG) efficiency by merging BICs in gallium arsenide (GaAs) photonic crystal slabs. In contrast to previous studies utilizing lithium niobate or silicon-based platforms for second-harmonic generation (SHG) or THG, our GaAs-based design leverages its high third-order susceptibility. Numerical simulations demonstrate a THG efficiency of <span><math><mrow><mn>3</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mrow><mn>10</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> at an ultralow pump intensity (<span><math><mrow><mn>2</mn><mspace></mspace><mtext>kW</mtext><mo>/</mo><msup><mrow><mtext>cm</mtext></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>). Furthermore, we analyze the topological charge dynamics during the merging process between symmetry-protected and accidental BICs, revealing the physical mechanism behind the radiation suppression. Our work not only advances the application of merged BICs in third-order nonlinear processes, but also provides insights into tailoring BIC topology for efficient frequency conversion applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132070"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meng Wang , Bowei Luo , Fuhao Yang , Ke Zhang , Deqin Ouyang , Yewang Chen , Minqiu Liu , Junqing Zhao , Haibing Xiao , Yongquan Zhou , Shuangchen Ruan
{"title":"Stable all polarization-maintaining fiber mode-locked laser at 2 μm in both anomalous and normal dispersion regimes","authors":"Meng Wang , Bowei Luo , Fuhao Yang , Ke Zhang , Deqin Ouyang , Yewang Chen , Minqiu Liu , Junqing Zhao , Haibing Xiao , Yongquan Zhou , Shuangchen Ruan","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We experimentally present a flexible mode-locked all-polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber oscillator at the 2 μm spectral region, relying on the nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM). Stable mode-locked pulse trains under net anomalous and normal dispersions were obtained, respectively, by tailoring the length of dispersion compensating fiber. The oscillator with net anomalous dispersion delivers the femtosecond-level pulse with a repetition rate of ∼13 MHz at a central wavelength of ∼1951.14 nm. While in a net normal dispersion regime, picosecond-level bound-state mode-locked pulses centered at ∼1949.5 nm with a repetition rate of ∼9.71 MHz were obtained. Both mode-locked operations exhibit high stability with power fluctuations of less than ∼1 %. Our work simultaneously reveals the two kinds of stable mode-locked operations in a NALM-based all-PM fiber oscillator for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, which contributes to the generation of stable ultra-short pulse laser in 2 μm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132125"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dengfeng Hou , Dian Bian , Zai Luo , Yating Luo , Wensong Jiang , Li Yang
{"title":"A lightweight super-resolution reconstruction method for phase contrast interferometric microscopy images","authors":"Dengfeng Hou , Dian Bian , Zai Luo , Yating Luo , Wensong Jiang , Li Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To enhance the resolution of raw interferometric images and capture fine details of microscopic images, this paper proposes a lightweight convolutional neural network-based interference image super-resolution model (Efficient Interference Image Super-Resolution, EIISR). This model avoids the need for complex optical system modulation, enabling high-resolution quantitative reconstruction of the structure of the sample under test. The model comprises multiple deep feature extraction modules and incorporates several key design components. An adaptive feature integration module is designed to capture non-local information, while the fusion of fused mobile inverted bottleneck convolutions and channel attention mechanisms effectively aggregates local contextual features. Furthermore, the integration of LayerNorm regularization and residual connections contributes to improved image reconstruction quality. The network is trained using reconstructed phase images of <span><math><mrow><mn>5</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math></span> micro-particles. Experimental results show that, in a 4x super-resolution reconstruction task, the model significantly enhances image detail, with a structural similarity index (SSIM) of 0.8189 and a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 27.43 dB. This study provides an effective reference for improving the quality of interferometric images using deep learning techniques and offers a key technological approach for integrated detection in fields such as microscopy and precision measurement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19586,"journal":{"name":"Optics Communications","volume":"591 ","pages":"Article 132050"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}