Non-Collinear Optical System Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical imaging and spectroscopy systems face performance degradation due to aberrations, particularly in scenarios where the optical signal is un-localized, making it difficult to correct for aberrations without a guide-star, especially in microscopy and spectroscopy applications with diffused fluorescent labeling or extended signal sources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a non-collinear optical system arrangement where the interrogation and detection optical axes cross at a non-zero angle, creating a pseudo guide-star for wavefront shaping, allowing for aberration correction without a separate guide-star, using a wavefront shaping device such as adaptive optics to modify the wavefront of optical radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If adaptive optics with guide-star is used to correct aberrations, then wavefront correction accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases and guide-star implementation becomes difficult in diffused fluorescent labeling or extended signal source scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guide-star requirement from the adaptive optics system by using the focal point itself as the reference for wavefront sensing. The wavefront sensor detects aberrations directly from the focal point where illumination and detection paths overlap, eliminating the need for a separate guide-star component and simplifying the system architecture while maintaining correction accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the focal point serve multiple functions: it acts as both the illumination focus and the detection reference point for wavefront sensing. This multi-functional use of the focal point eliminates the need for separate guide-star structures, reducing system complexity while enabling effective aberration correction in samples with diffused fluorescent labeling or extended signal sources
2Reliability
If non-collinear optical arrangement is used to create pseudo guide-star, then aberration correction capability is improved for un-localized signals, but optical path complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination path and detection path to create a non-collinear optical arrangement where they overlap at the focal point. This merging creates a pseudo guide-star effect using the sample's own emitted light, enabling wavefront sensing without requiring separate guide-star structures. The combined paths reduce optical component complexity while maintaining reliable aberration correction for un-localized signals from diffused fluorescent labeling or extended signal sources
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively corrects aberrations in optical systems with un-localized signals, enhancing signal quality and maintaining focal point accuracy, as demonstrated in Brillouin spectroscopy applications, improving signal intensity and spatial resolution.
Implementation Method 1
Adaptive optics has been used to shape the wavefront of the optical radiation (e.g., light interrogating the sample) to help correct for aberrations introduced by optical elements or the sample itself
Implementation Method 2
The illumination optical assembly can be configured to focus interrogating optical radiation to a focal point on or in a sample
Implementation Method 3
The first detection optical assembly can be configured to direct optical radiation emanating from the focal point to a first detector
Implementation Method 4
The controller can be configured to set a configuration of the wavefront shaping device to correct for aberration
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system has an illumination optical assembly, a detection optical assembly, a wavefront shaping device, and a controller. The illumination optical assembly focuses interrogating optical radiation to a focal point on or in a sample. The interrogating optical radiation propagates to the focal point along a first optical axis. The detection optical assembly direct optical radiation emanating from the focal point to a detector. The emanating optical radiation propagates from the focal point along a second optical axis. The wavefront shaping device is disposed in an optical path of the interrogating optical radiation or in an optical path of the emanating optical radiation. The controller sets a configuration of the wavefront shaping device to correct for aberration. The first optical axis is at a non-zero angle with respect to the second optical axis.