2018, Schneidewind, Henrik, Zeisberger, Matthias, Plidschun, Malte, Weidlich, Stefan, Schmidt, Markus A.

Focusing light represents one of the fundamental optical functionalities that is used in a countless number of situations. Here we introduce the concept of nano-bore optical fiber mediated light focusing that allows to efficiently focus light at micrometer distance from the fiber end face. Since the focusing effect is provided by the fundamental fiber mode, device implementation is extremely straightforward since no post-processing or nano-structuring is necessary. Far-field measurements on implemented fibers, simulations, and a dual-Gaussian beam toy model confirm the validity of the concept. Due to its unique properties such as strong light localization, a close to 100% implementation success rate, extremely high reproducibility, and its compatibility with current fiber circuitry, the concept will find application in numerous areas that demand to focus at remote distances.

2020, Jiang, Shiqi, Förster, Ronny, Plidschun, Malte, Kobelke, Jens, Ando, Ron Fatobene, Schmidt, Markus A.

Three-dimensional (3D) tracking of nano-objects represents a novel pathway for understanding dynamic nanoscale processes within bioanalytics and life science. Here we demonstrate 3D tracking of diffusing 100 nm gold nanosphere within a water-filled optofluidic fiber via elastic light scattering-based position retrieval. Specifically, the correlation between intensity and position inside a region of a fiber-integrated microchannel has been used to decode the axial position from the scattered intensity, while image processing-based tracking was used in the image plane. The 3D trajectory of a diffusing gold nanosphere has been experimentally determined, while the determined diameter analysis matches expectations. Beside key advantages such as homogenous light-line illumination, low-background scattering, long observation time, large number of frames, high temporal and spatial resolution and compatibility with standard microscope, the particular properties of operating with water defines a new bioanalytical platform that is highly relevant for medical and life science applications. © 2020 Shiqi Jiang et al., published by De Gruyter. 2020.

2022, Plidschun, Malte, Zeisberger, Matthias, Kim, Jisoo, Wieduwilt, Torsten, Schmidt, Markus A.

The generation of tailored light fields with spatially controlled intensity and phase distribution is essential in many areas of science and application, while creating such patterns remotely has recently defined a key challenge. Here, we present a fiber-compatible concept for the remote generation of complex multi-foci three-dimensional intensity patterns with adjusted relative phases between individual foci. By extending the well-known Huygens principle, we demonstrate, in simulations and experiments, that our interference-based approach enables controlling of both intensity and phase of individual focal points in an array of spots distributed in all three spatial directions. Holograms were implemented using 3D nano-printing on planar substrates and optical fibers, showing excellent agreement between design and implemented structures. In addition to planar substrates, holograms were also generated on modified single-mode fibers, creating intensity distributions consisting of about 200 individual foci distributed over multiple image planes. The presented scheme yields an innovative pathway for phase-controlled 3D digital holography over remote distances, yielding an enormous potential application in fields such as quantum technology, life sciences, bioanalytics and telecommunications. Overall, all fields requiring precise excitation of higher-order optical resonances, including nanophotonics, fiber optics and waveguide technology, will benefit from the concept.