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Thermooptical PDMS-Single-Layer Graphene Axicon-like Device for Tunable Submicron Long Focus Beams
Giancarlo Margheri1, André Nascimento Barbosa2, Fernando Lazaro Freire2
1Institute for Complex Systems of National Council of Researches of Italy, Separate Location of Sesto Fiorentino, Via Madonna del Piano, Sesto, 50019 Florence, Italy.
Micromachines
|December 23, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a tunable device using polydimethylsiloxane/graphene (PDMS/SLG) to create submicrometric focal spots. This innovation enhances spatial resolution for applications in microscopy and lithography.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Submicron long focusing range beams are crucial for advanced applications like optical manipulation, high-resolution lithography, and microscopy.
- Existing methods for generating such beams often face limitations in tunability and cost-effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically and experimentally characterize a novel elastomeric axicon-like tunable device for generating diffraction-resistant submicrometric spots.
- To investigate the thermo-optical effect in a polydimethylsiloxane/single layer graphene (PDMS/SLG) composite for beam manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an axicon-like tunable device using PDMS and a single layer of graphene (SLG).
- Utilizing the thermo-optical effect induced by optical absorption in SLG to modify the phase of an input Gaussian beam.
- Characterization of the generated focal spots using a pump and probe configuration, measuring spot diameter and focal line length.
Main Results:
- Experimental demonstration of submicron focal spots with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) diameter of 0.59 μm at 405 nm wavelength.
- Achieved a focal line length (FWHM) exceeding 90 μm.
- Demonstrated tunability of both focal line length and focus diameter by adjusting the pump power.
Conclusions:
- The proposed thermo-optical device effectively generates tunable, diffraction-resistant submicrometric focal spots with long focal ranges.
- The PDMS/SLG axicon-like device offers a simple, cost-effective solution for improving spatial resolution in optical applications.
- This technology holds promise for enhancing performance in microscopy, lithography, and optical manipulation.
