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Seeing through chaos in multimode fibres

Nature Photonics volume 9, pages 529–535 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

In a similar fashion to diffusers or other highly scattering media, multimode fibres deliver coherent light signals in the form of apparently random speckled patterns. In contrast to other optically random environments, multimode fibres feature remarkably faithful cylindrical symmetry. Our experimental studies challenge the commonly held notion that classifies multimode fibres as unpredictable optical systems. Instead, we demonstrate that commercially available multimode fibres are capable of performing as extremely precise optical components. We show that, with a sufficiently accurate theoretical model, light propagation within straight or even significantly deformed segments of multimode fibres may be predicted up to distances in excess of hundreds of millimetres. Harnessing this newly discovered predictability in imaging, we demonstrate the unparalleled power of multimode fibre-based endoscopes, which offer exceptional performance both in terms of resolution and instrument footprint. These results thus pave the way for numerous exciting applications, including high-quality imaging deep inside motile organisms.

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Figure 1: Analysing a short segment of fibre.
Figure 2: Polarization coupling effects in MMF.
Figure 3: Optical phases of PIMs.
Figure 4: Influence of fibre deformation.
Figure 5: Application to imaging.
Figure 6: Imaging with deformed fibre.

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Acknowledgements

T.Č. and M.P. acknowledge the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) (PaLS initiative) and the University of Dundee for funding. T.T. acknowledges support (grant no. P201/12/G028) by the Czech Science Foundation and SUPA Graduate School Distinguished Visitor Scheme. The authors thank H.I. Campbell Dalgarno, A. Danner and W.A. Gillespie for useful comments and proofreading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, College of Art, Science & Engineering, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK

    Martin Plöschner & Tomáš Čižmár

  2. Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, 61137, Czech Republic

    Tomáš Tyc

Authors
  1. Martin Plöschner
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  2. Tomáš Tyc
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  3. Tomáš Čižmár
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Contributions

T.Č. conceived and led the project, designed the instrumentation, performed all experiments and wrote the manuscript with contributions from all authors. M.P. and T.T. developed the theoretical model. All authors contributed equally to analysis of the results.

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Correspondence to Tomáš Čižmár.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Plöschner, M., Tyc, T. & Čižmár, T. Seeing through chaos in multimode fibres. Nature Photon 9, 529–535 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2015.112

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