Search

Lossless linear wave propagation is symmetric in time, a principle which can be used to create time reversed waves. Such waves are special “pre-scattered” spatiotemporal fields, which propagate through a complex medium as if observing a scattering process in reverse, entering the medium as a complicated spatiotemporal field and arriving after propagation as a desired target field, such as a spatiotemporal focus. Time reversed waves have previously been demonstrated for relatively low frequency phenomena such as acoustics, water waves and microwaves. Many attempts have been made to extend these techniques into optics. However, the much higher frequencies of optics make for very different requirements. A fully time reversed wave is a volumetric field with arbitrary amplitude, phase and polarisation at every point in space and time. The creation of such fields has not previously been possible in optics. We demonstrate time reversed optical waves with a device capable of independently controlling all of light’s classical degrees of freedom simultaneously. Such a class of ultrafast wavefront shaper is capable of generating a sequence of arbitrary 2D spatial/polarisation wavefronts at a bandwidth limited rate of 4.4 THz. This ability to manipulate the full field of an optical beam could be used to control both linear and nonlinear optical phenomena., Truly arbitrary spatiotemporal wavefront shaping has many potential applications in optics. Here the authors develop a system capable of arbitrary waveshaping to the extent of full time reversal of spatiotemporal optical beams.

We demonstrate a device for measuring the generalized Stokes parameters of a six spatial mode beam. The device is a single-shot wavefront sensor measuring spatial complex amplitude and coherence without an external phase reference.

Propagation of an ultrashort pulse of light through strongly scattering media generates an intricate spatio-spectral speckle that can be described by means of the multi-spectral transmission matrix (MSTM). In conjunction with a spatial light modulator, the MSTM enables the manipulation of the pulse leaving the medium; in particular focusing it at any desired spatial position and/or time. Here, we demonstrate how to engineer the point-spread-function of the focused beam both spatially and spectrally, from the measured MSTM. It consists in numerically filtering the spatial content at each wavelength of the matrix prior to focusing. We experimentally report on the versatility of the technique through several examples, in particular as an alternative to simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing, with potential applications in multiphoton microscopy., 7 pages, 5 figures

We demonstrate how to generate arbitrary optical vector fields in the full C band (1535nm – 1570nm), with a new class of ultrafast wavefront shaper. A device capable of generating a sequence of arbitrary 2D spatial/polarization wavefronts at a bandwidth-limited rate of 4.4 THz.

La diffusion de la lumière est souvent considérée comme un obstacle en optique, dont on souhaite s’affranchir. Alors que c’était encore inconcevable au début du siècle (il y a à peine 15 ans !), il est désormais possible de manipuler la lumière cohérente multidiffusée dans des échantillons complexes grâce aux modulateurs spatiaux de lumière. Cette nouvelle thématique, dite du « contrôle du front d’onde », s’avère très prometteuse pour l’imagerie en profondeur, mais également pour le contrôle de l’interaction lumière-matière en milieu désordonné.

We demonstrate how to control the polarization-resolved temporal impulse response of transmitted light through a multimode fiber. We show enhancing or attenuating the total temporal impulse response at arbitrary delays and polarization states.

We demonstrate how to generate arbitrary optical fields in the full C band (1535nm - 1570nm), by controlling simultaneously all the degrees of freedom of a light beam: spatial, polarization, spectral and temporal properties.

We demonstrate arbitrary control of all of the degrees of freedom of an optical beam (45 spatial modes per polarization state, spectral, temporal) in the full spectral C band, with temporal resolution 230 fs © 2020 The Author(s)

Wave propagation is a linear process in the time domain in the absence of loss. This property has been exploited over the past 20 years for wave control through highly disordered media. Let’s consider a short pulse propagating through a disordered system. If the field associated to the pulse is recorded and played backwards, the wave is focused back to the source at a single delay. This time reversal control has been evidenced for low frequency waves such as acoustics, water waves and microwaves. Over the last decade, partial spatiotemporal control of optical waves has been demonstrated by means of spatial light modulators. However full optical time reversal remains elusive. In this paper, we demonstrate time reversal of optical waves with a device that can manipulate independently amplitude and phase of 90 spatial and polarization modes, over 4 THz of bandwidth and 20 ps of delay. For the first time we demonstrate arbitrary control of all the degrees of freedom: spatial (amplitude and phase), polarization, spectral and temporal after propagation through a multimode fiber. This new ability to control and manipulate at will optical waves opens promising opportunities for linear and nonlinear optical phenomena, such as imaging and optical communications.

Over the last decade, wavefront shaping techniques with spatial light modulators have enabled the control of coherent light through disordered systems, like biological tissues or multimode fibre that has suffered from scattering or mode mixing. Beyond spatial focusing of light on a single speckle grain, these techniques have been extended to the control of broadband light. Spatio-temporal focusing has been achieved, which corresponds to compensation for the pulse broadening in a single speckle grain [1]. The temporal control of light in all the spatial positions, including the full polarization control, has however not been achieved.

The original version of this Article contained an error in the caption of Figure 3, which incorrectly read ‘a Spatiotemporal demonstration.’ The correct version states ‘Spatiospectral’ in place of ‘Spatiotemporal’. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Control of the spatial and temporal properties of light propagating in disordered media have been demonstrated over the last decade using spatial light modulators. Most of the previous studies demonstrated spatial focusing to the speckle grain size, and manipulation of the temporal properties of the achieved focus. In this work, we demonstrate temporal control of the total impulse response integrated over all the spatial and polarization modes propagating through a multimode fiber. We notably demonstrate a global enhancement of light intensity at a chosen arrival time, as well as attenuating light intensity at an arbitrary delay. We also demonstrate the full polarization control of such engineered states and a multiple control at different delay times, which opens interesting perspectives for non-linear imaging through complex systems and high power fiber lasers., Comment: 10 pages including main and supplemental documents. 5 figures in the main manuscript, 4 figures in the supplemental

Using a spatially and polarization resolved spectral pulse shaper we demonstrate the ability to generate arbitrary spatiotemporal vector fields in optics at the distal end of a multimode optical fiber.

Spatial and temporal properties of an ultrashort pulse of light are naturally scrambled upon propagation in thick scattering media. Significant progresses have been realized over the last decade to manipulate light propagation in scattering media, mostly using monochromatic light. However, applications that require a broadband ultrashort pulse of light remain limited, as the pulse gets temporally broadened because of scattering effects. A monochromatic optical transmission matrix does not allow temporal control of broadband light. Although measuring multiple transmission matrices with spectral resolution allows fine temporal control, it requires lengthy measurements, as well as stability of the medium. In this work, we show that a single linear operator that we named Broadband Transmission Matrix, can be straightforwardly measured for a broadband pulse with a co-propagating reference. We exploit this operator for focusing purposes, and we analyze its phase conjugation properties. While the operator naturally allows for spatial focusing, unexpectedly, the focus duration is on average shorter than the natural temporal broadening due to the medium. More precisely, we observe a two-fold temporal recompression at the focus that we fully explain theoretically. We also explore the spectral content at the focus, and demonstrate a narrowing of the spectrum. These results are particularly relevant for non-linear imaging techniques in biological tissues, at depth where an ultrashort excitation pulse is broadened.

Optical imaging through highly disordered media such as biological tissue or white paint remains a challenge as spatial information gets mixed because of multiple scattering. Nonetheless, spatial light modulators (SLM) offer millions of degrees of freedom to control the spatial speckle pattern at the output of a disordered medium with wavefront shaping techniques. However, if the laser generates a broadband ultrashort pulse, the transmitted signal becomes temporally broadened as the medium responds disparately for the different spectral components of the pulse. We have developed methods to control the spatio-temporal profile of the pulse at the output of a thick scattering medium. By measuring either the Multispectral or the Time- Resolved Transmission Matrix, we can fully describe the propagation of the broadband pulse either in the spectral or temporal domain. With wavefront shaping techniques, one can control both spatial and spectral/temporal degrees of freedom with a single SLM via the spectral diversity of the scattering medium. We have demonstrated deterministic spatio-temporal focusing of an ultrashort pulse of light after the medium, with a temporal compression almost to its initial time-width in different space-time position, as well as different temporal profile such as double pulses. We exploit this spatio-temporal focusing beam to enhance a non-linear process that is two-photon excitation. It opens interesting perspectives in coherent control, light-matter interactions and multiphotonic imaging.; L’imagerie optique à travers des milieux diffusants, comme des milieux biologiques ou de la peinture blanche, reste un challenge car l’information spatiale portée par la lumière incidente est mélangée par les évènements multiples de diffusion. Toutefois, les modulateurs spatiaux de lumière (SLM) disposent de millions de degrés de liberté pour contrôler le profil spatial de la lumière en sortie du milieu, en forme de tavelure (speckle), avec des techniques de modulation du front d’onde. Cependant, si le laser génère une impulsion brève, le signal transmis s’allonge temporellement, car le milieu diffusant répond différemment pour les diverses composantes spectrales de l’impulsion. Nous avons développé, au cours de cette thèse, des méthodes de contrôle du profil spatiotemporel d’une impulsion brève transmise à travers un milieu diffusant. En mesurant la Matrice de Transmission Multi-Spectrale ou Résolue-Temporellement, la propagation de l’impulsion peut être totalement décrite dans le domaine spectral ou temporel. Avec des techniques de manipulation du front d’onde, les degrés de libertés spectraux/temporel peuvent être ajustés avec un unique SLM via la diversité spectrale du milieu diffusant. Nous avons démontré, de manière déterministe, la focalisation spatio-temporelle d’une impulsion brève après propagation dans un milieu diffusant, avec une compression temporelle proche de la durée initiale de l’impulsion, à différentes positions de l’espace-temps. Nous avons également démontré un façonnage contrôlé du profil temporel de l’impulsion, notamment avec la génération d’impulsions doubles. Nous exploitons cette focalisation spatio-temporelle pour exciter un processus optique non-linéaire, la fluorescence à deux photons. Cette approche ouvre des perspectives intéressantes pour le contrôle cohérent, l’étude de l’interaction lumière-matière ainsi que l’imagerie multi-photonique.

When coherent light propagates through a disordered system, such as white paint or biological tissue, its spatial properties are mixed and the resulting transmitted field forms a speckle pattern. Although the size of a speckle grain is diffraction-limited, this complex interference figure is detrimental for all conventional imaging systems. Over the last decade, wavefront shaping techniques have opened a new way to perform imaging through disordered systems using spatial light modulators (SLM), which offer millions of degrees of freedom to control light propagation. Notably, several techniques have demonstrated the capacity of using a thick scattering medium as a “perfect scattering lens” to arbitrary focus light after the medium in a given position, with a spot size limited by the size of the speckle grain, i.e. diffraction [1]. Among these techniques, the optical transmission matrix (TM) of the scattering medium can be easily measured [2], and contains the linear relation between the input fields and the output fields.

When an ultrashort pulse of light propagates in a scattering medium, its spatial and temporal properties get mixed and distorted because of the scattering process. Spatially, the output pattern is the result of the multiple interference between the scattered photons. Temporally, light gets stretched within the medium due to its characteristic confinement time, thus the output pulse is broadened in the time domain. Nonetheless, as the scattering process is linear and deterministic, the spatio-temporal profile of light at the output can be controlled by shaping the input light using a single spatial light modulator (SLM). We report the first experimental measurement of the Time-Resolved Transmission Matrix of a multiple scattering medium using a coherent time-gated detection system. This operator contains the relationship between the input field, controllable with a SLM, and the output field accessible with a CCD camera for a given arrival time of photons at the output of medium. The delay line of the time-gated detection system sets the arrival time at will within the time of flight distribution of photons of the output pulse. We exploit this time-resolved matrix to achieve spatio-temporal focusing of the output pulse at any arbitrary space and time position. The pulse is recompressed in time to its original Fourier-limited temporal width and spatially to the diffraction-limited size defined by the speckle grain size. We also generate more sophisticated spatio-temporal profiles such as pump-probe like pulse, thus opening interesting perspectives in coherent control, light-matter interaction and imaging in disordered media.

We have recently reported on a method to design at will the spatial profile of transmitted coherent light after propagation through a strongly scattering sample, exploiting wavefront shaping in combination with a transmission matrix approach. In this paper, we explore experimentally and theoretically the ability of this approach to generate foci whose full width at half maximum are smaller than the diffraction-limited speckle grain size, using (Bessels) beam variations implemented with virtual annular filters.

We report a method to characterize the propagation of an ultrashort pulse of light through a multiple scattering medium by measuring its time-resolved transmission matrix. This method is based on the use of a spatial light modulator together with a coherent time-gated detection of the transmitted speckle field. Using this matrix, we demonstrate the focusing of the scattered pulse at any arbitrary position in space and time after the medium. Our approach opens new perspectives for both fundamental studies and applications in imaging and coherent control in disordered media., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We report broadband characterization of the propagation of light through a multiply scattering medium by means of its Multi-Spectral Transmission Matrix. Using a single spatial light modulator, our approach enables the full control of both spatial and spectral properties of an ultrashort pulse transmitted through the medium. We demonstrate spatiotemporal focusing of the pulse at any arbitrary position and time with any desired spectral shape. Our approach opens new perspectives for fundamental studies of light-matter interaction in disordered media, and has potential applications in coherent control and imaging.

We report broadband characterization of the propagation of light through a multiply scattering medium by means of its Multi-Spectral Transmission Matrix. Using a single spatial light modulator, our approach enables the full control of both spatial and spectral properties of an ultrashort pulse transmitted through the medium. We demonstrate spatiotemporal focusing of the pulse at any arbitrary position and time with any desired spectral shape. Our approach opens new perspectives for fundamental studies of light-matter interaction in disordered media, and has potential applications in sensing, coherent control and imaging., revised version, 5 pages, 4 figures, and supplementary materials(including 5 figures

Electromechanical resonators have emerged as a versatile platform in which detectors with unprecedented sensitivities and quantum mechanics in a macroscopic context can be developed. These schemes invariably utilise a single resonator but increasingly the concept of an array of electromechanical resonators is promising a wealth of new possibilities. In spite of this, experimental realisations of such arrays have remained scarce due to the formidable challenges involved in their fabrication. In a variation to this approach, we identify 75 harmonic vibration modes in a single electromechanical resonator of which 7 can also be parametrically excited. The parametrically resonating modes exhibit vibrations with only 2 oscillation phases which are used to build a binary information array. We exploit this array to execute a mechanical byte memory, a shift-register and a controlled-NOT gate thus vividly illustrating the availability and functionality of an electromechanical resonator array by simply utilising higher order vibration modes.

Several matrix approaches were developed to control light propagation through multiple scattering media under illumination of ultrashort pulses of light. These matrices can be recorded either with spectral or temporal resolution. Thanks to wavefront shaping, temporal and spatial refocusing have been demonstrated. In this work, we study how these different methods can be exploited to enhance a two-photon excitation fluorescence process. We first compare the different techniques on micrometer-size isolated fluorescent beads. We then demonstrate point-scanning imaging of such fluorescent microbeads located after a thick scattering medium, at a depth where conventional imaging would be impossible because of scattering effects., 5 pages, 4 figures