Fast and robust piezoelectric axicon mirror

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)

Background:

• Axicon mirrors are crucial for generating Bessel beams, which have applications in optical trapping and microscopy.
• Existing axicon devices often lack tunability or high-speed modulation capabilities.
• Piezoelectric actuators offer precise and rapid control for optical components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the first high-speed piezoelectric axicon mirror.
• To develop a method for programming and controlling the axicon's conical shape.
• To enable the generation of quasi-Bessel beams with a tunable optical element.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 300 μm thick mirror substrate with a usable aperture of 10 mm.
• Integration of ring-shaped electrodes for programming the aspheric, conical shape.
• Development of an automated optimization strategy for electrode potentials.
• Design of a simple control circuit for single-signal adjustment of the conical profile.
• Utilizing rapid prototyping for fabrication, avoiding cleanroom processing.

Main Results:

• Achieved a resonance frequency of 10 kHz for the tunable mirror.
• Demonstrated a static deflection of 5.8 μm with a surface deviation of 63 nm.
• Successfully generated a quasi-Bessel beam using the piezoelectric axicon mirror.
• Validated the effectiveness of the automated electrode potential optimization strategy.

Conclusions:

• The developed piezoelectric axicon mirror represents a significant advancement in tunable optical beam shaping.
• The device's high-speed capability and ease of control open new possibilities for dynamic optical systems.
• Rapid prototyping and simplified control circuitry make this technology accessible and practical for various applications.