Phase-dispersion optical tomography

We report on phase-dispersion optical tomography, a new imaging technique based on phase measurements using low-coherence interferometry. The technique simultaneously probes the target with fundamental and second-harmonic light and interferometrically measures the relative phase shift of the backscattered light fields. This phase change can arise either from reflection at an interface within a sample or from bulk refraction. We show that this highly sensitive 5 phase technique can complement optical coherence tomography, which measures electric field amplitude, by revealing otherwise undetectable dispersive variations in the sample

Measurement of angular distributions by use of low-coherence interferometry for light-scattering spectroscopy

We present a novel interferometer for measuring angular distributions of backscattered light. The new system exploits a low-coherence source in a modified Michelson interferometer to provide depth resolution, as in optical coherence tomography, but includes an imaging system that permits the angle of the reference field to be varied in the detector plane by simple translation of an optical element. We employ this system to examine the angular distribution of light scattered by polystyrene microspheres. The measured data indicate that size information can be recovered from angular-scattering distributions and that the coherence length of the source influences the applicability of Mie theory

Cavity ring-down technique and its application to the measurement of ultraslow velocities

We have developed a new ring-down technique that does not require a shutter to turn a probe laser on and off. With a rapid cavity scan we can measure a simple exponential cavity decay from which a cavity finesse can be found. When the cavity is scanned slowly, the cavity decay exhibits an amplitude modulation, and an analytic expression is derived for this modulation. With this new technique we measured the ultraslow relative velocity of the mirrors (of the order of micrometers per second) as well as the linewidth (~100 kHz) of the probe laser

Phase-referenced interferometer with subwavelength and subhertz sensitivity applied to the study of cell membrane dynamics

We report a highly sensitive means of measuring cellular dynamics with a novel interferometer that can measure motional phase changes. The system is based on a modified Michelson interferometer with a composite laser beam of 1550-nm low-coherence light and 775-nm CW light. The sample is prepared on a coverslip that is highly reflective at 775nm. By referencing the heterodyne phase of the 1550-nm light reflected from the sample to that of the 775-nm light reflected from the coverslip, small motions in the sample are detected, and motional artifacts from vibrations in the interferometer are completely eliminated. We demonstrate that the system is sensitive to motions as small as 3.6nm and velocities as small as 1nm/s. Using the instrument, we study transient volume changes of a few (approximately three) cells in a monolayer immersed in weakly hypotonic and hypertonic solutions

Spatial coherence of forward-scattered light in a turbid medium

We study spatially coherent forward-scattered light propagating in a turbid medium of moderate optical depth (0-9 mean free paths). Coherent detection was achieved by using a tilted heterodyne geometry, which desensitizes coherent detection of the attenuated incident light. We show that the degree of spatial coherence is significantly higher for light scattered only once in comparison with that for multiply scattered light and that it approaches a small constant value for large numbers of scattering events

A multi-orbital iterated perturbation theory for model Hamiltonians and real material-specific calculations of correlated systems

Perturbative schemes utilizing a spectral moment expansion are well known and extensively used for investigating the physics of model Hamiltonians and real material systems. The advantages they offer, in terms of being computationally inexpensive, with real frequency output at zero and finite temperatures, compensate for their deficiencies and offer a quick, qualitative analysis of the system behavior. In this work, we have developed a method, that can be classified as a multi-orbital iterative perturbation theory (MO-IPT) to study N-fold degenerate and non degenerate Anderson impurity models. As applications of the solver, we have combined the method with dynamical mean field theory to explore lattice models like the single orbital Hubbard model, covalent band insulator and the multi-orbital Hubbard model for density-density type interactions in different parameter regimes. The Hund's coupling effects in case of multiple orbitals is also studied. The limitations and quality of results are gauged through extensive comparison with data from the numerically exact continuous time quantum Monte Carlo method (hybridization expansion CTQMC). In general we observe that the agreement with CTQMC results gets better as we move away from particle-hole symmetry. We have integrated MO-IPT with density functional theory based electronic structure methods to study real material systems. As a test case, we have studied the classic, strongly correlated electronic material, SrVO$_3$. A comparison of density of states and photo emission spectrum (PES) with results obtained from different impurity solvers and experiments yields good agreement.Comment: 20 pages, 20 figure

Determination of particle size by using the angular distribution of backscattered light as measured with low-coherence interferometry

We employ a novel interferometer to measure the angular distribution of light backscattered by a turbid medium. Through comparison of the measured data with the predictions of Mie theory, we are able to determine the size of the scatterers comprising the medium with subwavelength precision. As the technique is based on low-coherence interferometry, we are able to examine the evolution of the angular distribution of scattered light as it propagates into the medium. The effects of multiple scattering as a function of penetration depth in the medium are analyzed. We also present various considerations for extending this technique to determining structural information in biological tissues, such as the effects of a distribution of particle sizes and the need to average out speckle contributions