Darmstadt, Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2008. / Dateien im PDF-Format.

The objectives of the present project were to set up, optimise and characterise a digitalholographic microscopy (DHM) laboratory set-up designed for the study of eyetissue and to implement and optimise digital data processing and noise reductionroutines. This work is part of a collaborative project aiming to provide quantitativemethods for the in vitro and in vivo characterisation of human corneal transparency.The laboratory set-up is based on a commercial laboratory microscope with zoomfunction (a “macroscope”). In continuation of previous work, we completed and optimised,and extended a software for holographic signal processing and numericalpropagation of the wavefront.To characterise the set-up and quantify its performances for standard operationand in its DHM configuration, we compare the magnification and resolution to theoreticalvalues for a given set of parameters. We determined the magnification factorand the rotation angle between the object and camera planes. With a laser wavelengthof 532 nm, a x1 objective and a zoom setting of x2.9 (which corresponds to aplane sample wavefront), we measured a magnification of 1.68. With the same parameters,we measure a holographic resolution of about 11 m. The wavefront phasecould be determined with a precision of a fraction of the wavelength.We subsequently performed analysis of the relative contribution of coherent noiseand implemented and evaluated several noise reduction routines. While the impactof coherent noise remained visible in the amplitude image, interferometric precisionwas obtained for the phase of the wavefront and the set-up was considered qualifiedfor its intended use for corneal characterisation.A first test measurement was performed on primate cornea.Subsequent work will address the further quantitative characterisation of the setupfor the full set of parameters (objectives, zoom positions, wavelengths), test measurementson samples with known transmission and light scattering properties (e.g.solutions of PMMA beads) and the comparison of the results with the predictions ofa theoretical model, and measurements on animal and human tissue.

The present study analyses three beam shaping approaches with respect to a light-efficient generation of i) patterns and ii) multiple spots by means of a generic optical 4f-setup. 4f approaches share the property that due to the one-to-one relationship between output intensity and input phase, the need for time-consuming, iterative calculation can be avoided. The resulting low computational complexity offers a particular advantage compared to the widely used holographic principles and makes them potential candidates for real-time applications. The increasing availability of high-speed phase modulators, e.g. on the basis of MEMS, calls for an evaluation of the performances of these concepts. Our second interest is the applicability of 4f methods to high-power applications. We discuss the variants of 4f intensity shaping by phase modulation from a system-level point of view which requires the consideration of application relevant boundary conditions. The discussion includes i) the micro mirror based phase manipulation combined with amplitude masking in the Fourier plane, ii) the Generalized Phase Contrast, and iii) matched phase-only correlation filtering combined with GPC. The conceptual comparison relies on comparative figures of merit for energy efficiency, pattern homogeneity, pattern image quality, maximum output intensity and flexibility with respect to the displayable pattern. Numerical simulations illustrate our findings.

Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) based on Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) are increasingly being used in various fields of optics and enable novel functionalities. The technology features frame rates from a few kHz to the MHz range as well as resolutions in the megapixel range. The field continues to make rapid progress, but technological advancements are always associated with high expenditure. Against this background, this dissertation addresses the question: What contribution can optical system design make to the further development of MOEMS-SLM-based modulation? A lens is a simple example of an optical system. This dissertation deals with system design based on Fourier optics in which the wave properties of light are exploited. On this basis, arrays of micromirrors can modulate light properties in a spatially resolved manner. For example, tilt-mirrors can control the intensity distribution in an image plane. In this dissertation variations of the aperture required for this are investigated. In addition to known absorbing apertures, phase filters in particular are investigated, which apply a spatially distributed delay effect to the light wave. This dissertation proposes the combination of MOEMS-SLMs with static, pixelated elements in the same system. These may be pixelated phase masks, also known as diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Analogously, pixelated polarizer arrays and absorbing photomasks exist. The combination of SLMs and static elements allows new degrees of freedom in system design. This thesis proposes new modulation systems based on MOEMS tilt-mirror SLMs. These systems use analog tilt-mirror arrays for the simultaneous modulation of intensity and phase as well as intensity and polarization. The proposed systems thus open up new possibilities for MOEMS-based spatial light modulation. Their properties are validated and investigated by numerical simulations. System properties and limitations are derived from these near and far field simulations. This dissertation shows that the modulation of different MOEMS-SLM types can be fundamentally changed by system design. Piston mirror arrays are classically used for phase modulation and tilt-mirror arrays for intensity modulation. This thesis proposes the use of subpixel phase structures. Their use approximately provides tilt-mirrors with the phase-modulating effect of piston-mirrors. In order to achieve this, a new optimization method is presented. Piston-mirror arrays are available only to a limited extent. By contrast, tilt-mirror arrays are well established. In combination with subpixel phase features, tilt-mirrors may replace piston-mirrors in some applications. These and other challenges of MOEMS-SLM technology can be adequately addressed on the basis of system design. / Räumliche Lichtmodulatoren (Spatial Light Modulators, SLMs) auf Basis von Mikro-Opto-Elektro-Mechanischen Systemen (MOEMS) finden zunehmend Anwendung in verschiedensten Teilgebieten der Optik und ermöglichen neuartige Funktionalitäten. Die Technik ermöglicht Frameraten von einigen kHz bis in den MHz-Bereich sowie Auflösungen bis in den Megapixelbereich. Der Fachbereich macht nach wie vor rasche Fortschritte, technologische Weiterentwicklungen sind aber stets mit hohem Aufwand verbunden. Vor diesem Hintergrund widmet sich diese Arbeit der Frage: Welchen Beitrag kann optisches Systemdesign zur Weiterentwicklung der MOEMS-SLM-basierten Modulation leisten? Bereits eine Linse stellt ein Beispiel für ein optisches System dar. Diese Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit Systemdesign auf Basis der Fourier-Optik, bei der die Welleneigenschaften des Lichts genutzt werden. Auf dieser Basis können Arrays von Mikrospiegeln die flächige Verteilung von Licht einstellen. Beispielsweise können Kippspiegel die Intensitätsverteilung in einer Bildebene steuern. In dieser Dissertation werden Variationen der dafür nötigen Apertur untersucht. Neben bekannten absorbierenden Blenden werden insbesondere Phasenfilter untersucht, welche eine flächig verteilte Verzögerungswirkung auf die Lichtwelle aufbringen. Diese Dissertation schlägt die Kombination von MOEMS-SLMs mit statischen, pixelierten Elementen im selben System vor. Hierbei kann es sich um pixelierte Phasenmasken handeln, auch bekannt als diffraktive optische Elemente (DOEs). Analog existieren pixelierte Polarisatorarrays und absorbierende Fotomasken. Die Kombination von SLMs und statischen Elementen ermöglicht neue Freiheiten im Systemdesign. Diese Arbeit schlägt neue Modulationssysteme auf Basis von MOEMS-Kippspiegel-SLMs vor. Diese Systeme nutzen analoge Kippspiegelarrays für die simultane Modulation von Intensität und Phase sowie von Intensität und Polarisation. Die vorgeschlagenen Systeme eröffnen damit neue Möglichkeiten für die MOEMS-basierte Flächenlichtmodulation. Ihre Eigenschaften werden mithilfe von numerischen Simulationen validiert und untersucht. Aus diesen Nah- und Fernfeldsimulationen werden Systemeigenschaften und Limitierungen abgeleitet. Es wird in dieser Arbeit gezeigt, dass die Modulation verschiedener MOEMS-SLM-Typen auf Basis des Systementwurfs fundamental verändert werden kann. Senkspiegelarrays werden klassischerweise zur Modulation der Phase eingesetzt und Kippspiegelarrays zur Modulation der Intensität. Diese Arbeit schlägt die Nutzung von Subpixel-Phasenstrukturen vor. Diese verleihen Kippspiegeln näherungsweise die phasenmodulierende Wirkung von Senkspiegeln. Um dies zu erreichen, wird ein neuartiges Optimierungsverfahren vorgestellt. Senkspiegelarrays sind nur in geringem Umfang verfügbar. Im Gegensatz dazu sind Kippspiegelarrays gut etabliert. In Kombination mit Subpixel-Phasenstrukturen könnten Kippspiegel in einigen Anwendungen Senkspiegel ersetzen. Diese und andere Herausforderungen der MOEMS-SLM-Technologie lassen sich auf der Grundlage des Systemdesigns adäquat adressieren.