113 research outputs found
The Universe is not a Computer
When we want to predict the future, we compute it from what we know about the
present. Specifically, we take a mathematical representation of observed
reality, plug it into some dynamical equations, and then map the time-evolved
result back to real-world predictions. But while this computational process can
tell us what we want to know, we have taken this procedure too literally,
implicitly assuming that the universe must compute itself in the same manner.
Physical theories that do not follow this computational framework are deemed
illogical, right from the start. But this anthropocentric assumption has
steered our physical models into an impossible corner, primarily because of
quantum phenomena. Meanwhile, we have not been exploring other models in which
the universe is not so limited. In fact, some of these alternate models already
have a well-established importance, but are thought to be mathematical tricks
without physical significance. This essay argues that only by dropping our
assumption that the universe is a computer can we fully develop such models,
explain quantum phenomena, and understand the workings of our universe. (This
essay was awarded third prize in the 2012 FQXi essay contest; a new afterword
compares and contrasts this essay with Robert Spekkens' first prize entry.)Comment: 10 pages with new afterword; matches published versio
Robust Digital Holography For Ultracold Atom Trapping
We have formulated and experimentally demonstrated an improved algorithm for
design of arbitrary two-dimensional holographic traps for ultracold atoms. Our
method builds on the best previously available algorithm, MRAF, and improves on
it in two ways. First, it allows for creation of holographic atom traps with a
well defined background potential. Second, we experimentally show that for
creating trapping potentials free of fringing artifacts it is important to go
beyond the Fourier approximation in modelling light propagation. To this end,
we incorporate full Helmholtz propagation into our calculations.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Solving Phase Retrieval with a Learned Reference
Fourier phase retrieval is a classical problem that deals with the recovery
of an image from the amplitude measurements of its Fourier coefficients.
Conventional methods solve this problem via iterative (alternating)
minimization by leveraging some prior knowledge about the structure of the
unknown image. The inherent ambiguities about shift and flip in the Fourier
measurements make this problem especially difficult; and most of the existing
methods use several random restarts with different permutations. In this paper,
we assume that a known (learned) reference is added to the signal before
capturing the Fourier amplitude measurements. Our method is inspired by the
principle of adding a reference signal in holography. To recover the signal, we
implement an iterative phase retrieval method as an unrolled network. Then we
use back propagation to learn the reference that provides us the best
reconstruction for a fixed number of phase retrieval iterations. We performed a
number of simulations on a variety of datasets under different conditions and
found that our proposed method for phase retrieval via unrolled network and
learned reference provides near-perfect recovery at fixed (small) computational
cost. We compared our method with standard Fourier phase retrieval methods and
observed significant performance enhancement using the learned reference.Comment: Accepted to ECCV 2020. Code is available at
https://github.com/CSIPlab/learnPR_referenc
Sparsity-based single-shot sub-wavelength coherent diffractive imaging
We present the experimental reconstruction of sub-wavelength features from
the far-field intensity of sparse optical objects: sparsity-based
sub-wavelength imaging combined with phase-retrieval. As examples, we
demonstrate the recovery of random and ordered arrangements of 100 nm features
with the resolution of 30 nm, with an illuminating wavelength of 532 nm. Our
algorithmic technique relies on minimizing the number of degrees of freedom; it
works in real-time, requires no scanning, and can be implemented in all
existing microscopes - optical and non-optical
Coherent methods in the X-ray sciences
X-ray sources are developing rapidly and their coherent output is growing
extremely rapidly. The increased coherent flux from modern X-ray sources is
being matched with an associated rapid development in experimental methods.
This article reviews the literature describing the ideas that utilise the
increased brilliance from modern X-ray sources. It explores how ideas in
coherent X-ray science are leading to developments in other areas, and vice
versa. The article describes measurements of coherence properties and uses this
discussion as a base from which to describe partially-coherent diffraction and
X-ray phase contrast imaging, with its applications in materials science,
engineering and medicine. Coherent diffraction imaging methods are reviewed
along with associated experiments in materials science. Proposals for
experiments to be performed with the new X-ray free-electron-lasers are briefly
discussed. The literature on X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy is described
and the features it has in common with other coherent X-ray methods are
identified. Many of the ideas used in the coherent X-ray literature have their
origins in the optical and electron communities and these connections are
explored. A review of the areas in which ideas from coherent X-ray methods are
contributing to methods for the neutron, electron and optical communities is
presented.Comment: A review articel accepted by Advances in Physics. 158 pages, 29
figures, 3 table
Metasurface holograms reaching 80% efficiency
Surfaces covered by ultrathin plasmonic structures—so-called metasurfaces—have recently been shown to be capable of completely controlling the phase of light, representing a new paradigm for the design of innovative optical elements such as ultrathin flat lenses, directional couplers for surface plasmon polaritons and wave plate vortex beam generation. Among the various types of metasurfaces, geometric metasurfaces, which consist of an array of plasmonic nanorods with spatially varying orientations, have shown superior phase control due to the geometric nature of their phase profile. Metasurfaces have recently been used to make computer-generated holograms, but the hologram efficiency remained too low at visible wavelengths for practical purposes. Here, we report the design and realization of a geometric metasurface hologram reaching diffraction efficiencies of 80% at 825 nm and a broad bandwidth between 630 nm and 1,050 nm. The 16-level-phase computer-generated hologram demonstrated here combines the advantages of a geometric metasurface for the superior control of the phase profile and of reflectarrays for achieving high polarization conversion efficiency. Specifically, the design of the hologram integrates a ground metal plane with a geometric metasurface that enhances the conversion efficiency between the two circular polarization states, leading to high diffraction efficiency without complicating the fabrication process. Because of these advantages, our strategy could be viable for various practical holographic applications
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