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Fresnel zone plates for reconfigurable atomic waveguides
Optics Express
|August 14, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel hybrid Fresnel zone plate (FZP) that combines high resolution with dynamic control. This adaptable optical element enables versatile beam shaping for advanced applications like atom interferometry.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Atomic Physics
Background:
- Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) offer high resolution (1μm) and diffraction-limited foci but lack dynamic phase control.
- Spatial light modulators (SLMs) provide dynamic control but are limited by bulkiness and lower resolution (10μm pixels).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a hybrid FZP that merges the high resolution of static FZPs with the dynamic control of SLMs.
- To create a scalable optical element for versatile beam generation and manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Designed a novel FZP with a plano-convex donut lens profile.
- Utilized SLM illumination to dynamically control the phase profile of the FZP.
- Demonstrated the generation of various optical patterns including rings, arcs, and lattices.
Main Results:
- Achieved a scalable FZP with adaptable near-field waveguide properties.
- Successfully generated diverse focal plane intensity and phase distributions using the same FZP.
- The FZP demonstrated scalability to ring sizes significantly larger than direct SLM generation.
Conclusions:
- The hybrid FZP offers a 'best-of-both' solution, overcoming limitations of conventional FZPs and SLMs.
- This adaptable optical element is well-suited for advanced applications such as Sagnac interferometry with ultracold atoms.
