Superpositions of asymmetrical Bessel beams.

We considered nonparaxial asymmetrical Bessel modes of the first and second types, which differ from a conventional symmetrical Bessel mode by a real-valued shift along one Cartesian coordinate and an imaginary shift along another (both shifts are equal in modulus). The first- and second-type Bessel modes differ only in signs of the shift and, therefore, have different orbital angular momentum (OAM) (integer or fractional). Addition and subtraction of complex amplitudes of two identical asymmetrical Bessel modes of the first and second type lead to light beams with the same integer OAM equal to the topological charge n of the original mode, but with different transverse intensity distributions, which depend on the shift magnitude. This proposed method allows controlling of the OAM of the beam with simultaneous changing of its shape, i.e., for matching with the object being trapped.

Asymmetric Bessel-Gauss beams.

We propose a three-parameter family of asymmetric Bessel-Gauss (aBG) beams with integer and fractional orbital angular momentum (OAM). The aBG beams are described by the product of a Gaussian function by the nth-order Bessel function of the first kind of complex argument, having finite energy. The aBG beam's asymmetry degree depends on a real parameter c≥0: at c=0, the aBG beam is coincident with a conventional radially symmetric Bessel-Gauss (BG) beam; with increasing c, the aBG beam acquires a semicrescent shape, then becoming elongated along the y axis and shifting along the x axis for c≫1. In the initial plane, the intensity distribution of the aBG beams has a countable number of isolated optical nulls on the x axis, which result in optical vortices with unit topological charge and opposite signs on the different sides of the origin. As the aBG beam propagates, the vortex centers undergo a nonuniform rotation with the entire beam about the optical axis (c≫1), making a π/4 turn at the Rayleigh range and another π/4 turn after traveling the remaining distance. At different values of the c parameter, the optical nulls of the transverse intensity distribution change their position, thus changing the OAM that the beam carries. An isolated optical null on the optical axis generates an optical vortex with topological charge n. A vortex laser beam shaped as a rotating semicrescent has been generated using a spatial light modulator.

Asymmetric Bessel modes.

We propose a new, three-parameter family of diffraction-free asymmetric elegant Bessel modes (aB-modes) with an integer and fractional orbital angular momentum (OAM). The aB-modes are described by the nth-order Bessel function of the first kind with complex argument. The asymmetry degree of the nonparaxial aB-mode is shown to depend on a real parameter c≥0: when c=0, the aB-mode is identical to a conventional radially symmetric Bessel mode; with increasing c, the aB-mode starts to acquire a crescent form, getting stretched along the vertical axis and shifted along the horizontal axis for c≫1. On the horizontal axis, the aB-modes have a denumerable number of isolated intensity zeros that generate optical vortices with a unit topological charge of opposite sign on opposite sides of 0. At different values of the parameter c, the intensity zeros change their location on the horizontal axis, thus changing the beam's OAM. An isolated intensity zero on the optical axis generates an optical vortex with topological charge n. The OAM per photon of an aB-mode depends near-linearly on c, being equal to ℏ(n+cI1(2c)/I0(2c)), where ℏ is the Planck constant and In(x) is a modified Bessel function.

Tight focusing with a binary microaxicon.

Using a near-field scanning microscope (NT-MDT) with a 100 nm aperture cantilever held 1 µm apart from a microaxicon of diameter 14 µm and period 800 nm, we measure a focal spot resulting from the illumination by a linearly polarized laser light of wavelength λ=532 nm, with its FWHM being equal to 0.58λ, and the depth of focus being 5.6λ. The rms deviation of the focal spot intensity from the calculated value is 6%. The focus intensity is five times larger than the maximal illumination beam intensity.

Hypergeometric modes.

A new family of paraxial laser beams that form an orthogonal basis is discussed. When propagated in uniform space, these beams preserve their structure to scale. The intensity distribution profile for such beams is similar to that for the Bessel modes, representing a set of alternating bright and dark concentric rings. The complex amplitude of these beams is proportional to the degenerate (confluent) hypergeometric function, and therefore we term such beams hypergeometric (HyG) modes. The HyG modes are generated with a liquid-crystal microdisplay.

Sidelobe contrast reduction for optical vortex beams using a helical axicon.

We present a new approach for generating an optical vortex pattern with reduced sidelobes without increasing the radius of the vortex and without excessive energy loss. Our technique combines the spiral phase plate with a weak axicon to form a helical axicon. Experimental results using a liquid crystal display agree with theory.

Diffraction of a plane, finite-radius wave by a spiral phase plate.

We derive analytical expressions containing a hypergeometric function to describe the Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction of a plane wave of circular and ringlike cross section by a spiral phase plate (SPP) of an arbitrary integer order. Experimental diffraction patterns generated by an SPP fabricated in resist through direct e-beam writing are in good agreement with the theoretical intensity distribution.

Investigation of computer-generated diffractive beam shapers for flattening of single-modal CO(2) laser beams.

A full cycle was realized of the photolithographic development and detailed testing of a diffractive optical element that transforms the diverging Gaussian beams of CO(2) lasers into a uniformly filled-in rectangle. The zone feature size of the beam shaper, the diffractive efficiency and accuracy, the focus depth, and the stability with respect to the size and the divergence of incident Gaussian beams are studied by computer modeling. Calculated flattop intensity distributions are presented in the same form of gray-level pictures and three-dimensional plots as the corresponding results measured by an IR camera.

[An assessment of the surgical and anesthesiological stress in cesarean section by studying the hypophyseal-adrenal system]. / Otsenka operatsionno-anesteziologicheskogo stressa pri kesarevom sechenii s pomoshch'iu issledovaniia gipofizarno-nadpochechnikovoi sistemy.

Cesarean section performed under endotracheal anesthesia is accompanied by a considerable stimulation of hypophyseal-adrenal system (HAS) manifested in the activation of adenohypophysis and adrenal cortex adrenocorticotropic function. Prolonged epidural anesthesia performed for the anesthesiological protection of pregnant women during abdominal delivery is characterized by optimal HAS hormonal levels at all the stages of anesthesia and surgery. Relative stability of HAS function and hemodynamic indexes indicates the adequacy of antinociceptive protection of the type of anesthesia under study.