| Proj No. | B2174-251 |
| Title | Ultra-high resolution confocal imaging based on flat optics |
| Summary | Recent advancements in flat optics have revolutionized optical design by enabling ultrathin, lightweight, and highly customizable optical components. Unlike traditional lenses, flat optics can precisely control light at the nanoscale, offering unprecedented flexibility in engineering optical systems. These breakthroughs have opened new possibilities in high-resolution imaging, paving the way for next-generation optical technologies. Confocal imaging is a powerful three-dimensional imaging technique that provides exceptional depth resolution by selectively focusing light and rejecting out-of-focus signals. By integrating flat optics into a confocal imaging system, this project aims to develop an ultra-high resolution imaging module with enhanced optical performance and a more compact design. Flat optics offer advantages such as reduced aberrations, improved light control, and the ability to miniaturize optical systems, making them ideal for applications in biomedical imaging, material characterization, and precision metrology. However, flat optics also have disadvantages in imaging resolution when used with broadband light. These include chromatic dispersion, which can lead to wavelength-dependent focal shifts and reduced image sharpness. Additionally, their reliance on subwavelength nanostructures can introduce efficiency losses and diffraction artifacts, limiting resolution and contrast. Furthermore, flat optics often struggle with high numerical aperture (NA) designs, restricting their ability to achieve diffraction-limited performance across a broad spectral range. These challenges make it difficult to fully replace traditional bulk optics in high-precision imaging applications requiring broadband illumination.The project provides hands-on experience in optical design, instrumentation, and signal processing, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical applications in cutting-edge imaging technology. Project Stages and Tasks: 1. Literature Review: Conduct a brief literature review of the topics: familiarization with confocal imaging; understand the state-of-the-art in flat optics, examine existing system using flat optics and their performance features. 2. System Design: Assist the effort in designing a confocal optical system utilizing flat optics. 3. System Implementation (Hardware): Help with the purchase of the desired components, mount them and assemble them in the system and do first checks of proper functionality of hardware. 4. System Implementation (Software): Develop and implement an image reconstruction algorithm for enhanced resolution image processing capabilities. 5. Performance Evaluation and Optimization: Tests & measurements for characterizing the optical system experimentally. 6. Final Report: Compile and document findings and results in a comprehensive final report. The student may contribute to only one, or a few, or (ideally) all the activities listed above, depending on the available time, his background and skills, and other factors (e.g. collaboration with other parties, time needed for various other elements, etc.) While not mandatory, preliminary knowledge of Fourier optics, as well as proficiency in MATLAB, Python, CAD software and/or programming of Zemax are highly desirable and would be a big plus. This project is in collaboration with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing (SIMTech), where the student will carry out most of the work, joining a research team of experienced scientists and engineers, under the guidance of Dr. Seck Hon Luen as co-supervisor. It is preferrable if the student is willing to start the work earlier (BEFORE the school starts), namely to gradually begin as soon as possible after the end of the exam session. Since this is a company-based project the candidate(s) may first be interviewed by the company co-supervisor and the supervising prof. |
| Supervisor | A/P Poenar Daniel Puiu (Loc:S2 > S2 B2A > S2 B2A 27, Ext: +65 67904237) |
| Co-Supervisor | - |
| RI Co-Supervisor | - |
| Lab | Nanophotonics Laboratory (formerly Engineering Materials) (Loc: S1-B2a-02) |
| Single/Group: | Single |
| Area: | Intelligent Systems and Control Engineering |
| ISP/RI/SMP/SCP?: | ISP: Dr. Seck Hon Luen Senior Scientist II Singapore Institute of Manufacturing (SIMTech) hlseck@SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg |