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We combine two-dimensional freeform reflector design with a scattering surface modeled using microfacets, i.e., small, specular, surfaces representing surface roughness. The model resulted in a convolution integral for the scattered light intensity distribution, which yields an inverse specular problem after deconvolution. Thus, the shape of a reflector with a scattering surface may be computed using deconvolution, followed by solving the typical inverse problem of specular reflector design. We found that the presence of surface scattering resulted in a few percentage difference in terms of reflector radius, depending on the amount of scattering in the system.

Wavefront shaping is a technique to study and control light transport inside scattering media. Wavefront shaping is considered to be applicable to any complex material, yet in most previous studies, the only sample geometries that are studied are slabs or wave-guides. In this paper, we study how macroscopic changes in the sample shape affect light scattering using the wavefront shaping technique. Using a flexible scattering material, we optimize the intensity of light in a focusing spot using wavefront shaping and record the optimized pattern, comparing the enhancement for different curvatures and beam radii. We validate our hypothesis that wavefront shaping has a similar enhancement regardless of the free-form shape of the sample and thus offers relevant potential for industrial applications. We propose a new figure of merit to evaluate the performance of wavefront shaping for different shapes. Surprisingly, based on this figure of merit, we observe that for this particular sample, wavefront shaping has a slightly better performance for a free-form shape than for a slab shape., ImPhys/Adam group

We apply the Lie algebraic method to reflecting optical systems with plane-symmetric freeform mirrors. Using analytical ray-tracing equations, we construct an optical map. The expansion of this map gives us the aberration coefficients in terms of initial ray coordinates. The Lie algebraic method is applied to treat aberrations up to arbitrary order. The presented method provides a systematic and rigorous approach to the derivation, treatment, and composition of aberrations in plane-symmetric systems. We give the results for second- and third-order aberrations and apply them to three single-mirror examples.

We study the secrecy of an optical communication system with two scattering layers, to hide both the sender and receiver, by measuring the correlation of the intermediate speckle generated between the two layers. The binary message is modulated as spatially shaped wavefronts, and the high number of transmission modes of the scattering layers allows for many uncorrelated incident wavefronts to send the same message, making it difficult for an attacker to intercept or decode the message and thus increasing secrecy. We collect 50,000 intermediate speckle patterns and analyze their correlation distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test. We search for further correlations using the K-Means and Hierarchical unsupervised classification algorithms. We find no correlation between the intermediate speckle and the message, suggesting a person-in-the-middle attack is not possible. This method is compatible with any digital encryption method and is applicable for codifications in optical wireless communication (OWC).

We present a novel approach of modelling surface light scattering in the context of two-dimensional reflector design, relying on energy conservation and optimal transport theory. For isotropic scattering in cylindrically or rotationally symmetric systems with in-plane scattering, the scattered light distribution can be expressed as a convolution between a scattering function, which characterises the optical properties of the surface, and a specular light distribution. Deconvolving this expression allows for traditional specular reflector design procedures to be used, whilst accounting for scattering. This approach thus constitutes solving the inverse problem of light scattering, allowing for direct computation of the reflector surface, without the need for design iterations.

In most previous studies about light scattering, no geometry is used besides a slab. In this work, we study how macroscopic changes in the geometry affects light scattering using the Wavefront Shaping technique., Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public. ISBN: 978-1-957171-16-6, ImPhys/Adam group

We present a unified mathematical framework for sixteen fundamental optical systems. The systems have a parallel or point source and a parallel, point, near-field or far-field target. These choices give eight configurations if we use reflectors only and take the minimum number of freeform surfaces required. Similarly, we get eight lens systems if we only use lens surfaces. The mathematical model for each system is based on Hamilton’s characteristic functions and conservation of luminous flux. Some configurations lead to standard or generalized Monge-Ampère equations. The remaining systems are described by so-called generated Jacobian equations.

The design of freeform optical surfaces is an inverse problem in illumination optics. Combining the laws of geometrical optics and energy conservation gives rise to a generalized Monge-Ampère equation. The underlying mathematical structure of some optical systems allows for an optimal-transport formulation of the problem with an associated cost function. This motivates the design of optimal-transport-based numerical algorithms. However, not all optical systems can be cast in the framework of optimal transport. In this paper, we derive a formulation in terms of generating functions where the generalized Monge-Ampère equation becomes a generated Jacobian equation. We present an iterative least-squares algorithm that can be used to solve generated Jacobian equations. We consider two example systems: System 1 is a single freeform lens with a point source and far-field target, and System 2 is a single freeform reflector with a parallel source beam and near-field target. We introduce a novel derivation of the generating functions via Hamilton's characteristics. We can associate a cost function to System 1, and we compare the performance of the numerical algorithm to a previous optimal-transport-based version. System 2 cannot be formulated as an optimal-transport problem, which demonstrates the wider applicability of the new version of the algorithm to any optical system that can be described by a smooth generating function.

Many LED lighting applications involve the design of multiple optical surfaces. A prime example is a single lens with two refractive surfaces. In this paper, we consider an LED light source approximated as a point and a far-field target intensity. Using Hamilton’s characteristic functions, the design problem is converted into two generalized Monge–Ampère equations by deriving a generating function for each optical surface. The generating function is a generalization of the cost function in optimal transport theory. The generalized Monge–Ampère equations are solved using an iterative least-squares algorithm. To compute the first optical surface, we choose an intermediate far-field target intensity. By choosing different intermediate target intensities based on the source and target intensity, we develop a “knob” to distribute the refractive power over both surfaces of the lens. We apply the algorithm on two example problems and show it is capable of producing complicated target distributions.

Imaging and transport light through scattering opaque media is a hot topic pursued in multiple fields, ranging from nanotechnology to life sciences. A promising technique to do this is wavefront shaping (WFS), where the light propagation through a scattering medium is controlled by interference [1] [2]. Recently, the potential of WFS was even extended to, for instance, time-varying samples [3] [4]. In most cases to date, WFS has been done on the quintessential scattering sample geometry, namely in slabs., Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public., ImPhys/Optics

Microwave cavity resonance spectroscopy is introduced and demonstrated as a new approach to investigate the generation of acoustic waves by a pulsed radio-frequency driven atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. Thanks to recent advancements in the diagnostic method, the lower detection limit for pressure changes in air is ∼0.3 Pa. Good agreement with conventional pressure transducer measurements with respect to the temporal evolution, the pressure amplitude and the spectral response is found. Fourier analysis revealed that the acoustic waves induced by the plasma can most likely be attributed to standing waves in the discharge geometry. Additionally, the plasma-induced acoustic waves of a few (tens of) Pa are proposed as an active mechanism in plasma medicine.