Eilers, Hergen (ORCID:0000000233705256)

DOE OSTI2024

A modular GUI-based program for genetic algorithm-based feedback-assisted wavefront shaping

Abstract We have developed a modular graphical user interface (GUI)-based program for use in genetic algorithm-based feedback-assisted wavefront shaping. The program uses a class-based structure to separate out the universal modules (e.g. GUI, multithreading, optimization algorithms) and hardware-specific modules (e.g. code for different SLMs and cameras). This modular design makes the program easily adaptable to a wide range of lab equipment, while providing easy access to a GUI, multithreading, and three optimization algorithms (phase-stepping, simple genetic, and microgenetic).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Subsurface Spectroscopy in Heterogeneous Materials Using Self-Healing Laser Beams

Self-healing optical beams are a class of propagation modes that can recover their beam shapes after distortion or partial blockage. This self-healing property makes them attractive for use in applications involving turbid media as they can—in theory—penetrate further into these materials than standard Gaussian beams. In this paper, we characterize the propagation of two different self-healing beams (Bessel and Airy) through a solid scattering material with different scatterer concentrations and find that both beams do recover after scattering for samples below a threshold scatterer concentration. Additionally, we test the applicability of both beam shapes for improved sub-surface spectroscopy in heterogeneous materials using fluorescent particles and find that there is an average fluorescence intensity enhancement of 1.3× using self-healing beams versus a standard Gaussian beam.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗