Mainz 2026 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 40: Poster – Photonics

Q 40.16: Poster

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 17:00–19:00, Philo 1. OG

Complex-structured beam produced by modulated phase mask — •Zihao Zhang and Harald Giessen — 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Super-resolution technologies for both imaging and measurement have become major research frontiers over the past decade, driven by advances such as Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy and Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM). STED routinely achieves resolutions down to 30 nm with strong depletion, while SIM offers enhanced resolution with compatibility for live-cell imaging. However, both methods rely on complex-structured beams, typically donut-shaped or otherwise spatially engineered, whose generation often requires bulky and intricate optical assemblies. Many practical applications, therefore, demand compact, easily integrated solutions for producing such illumination fields. In this work, we exploit state-of-the-art Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL) to fabricate customizable, continuous, and freeform microscale phase masks capable of generating advanced beam profiles. We demonstrate multiple design strategies, including aspect-ratio tuning, controlled phase-rotation gradients, and phase extraction from superposed fields. These approaches enable the realization of complex-structured beams in a highly compact form factor, suitable for straightforward implantation into existing optical systems. Our results establish 2GL-fabricated phase masks as a versatile platform for next-generation super-resolution illumination engineering.

Keywords: Structured beam; Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL)