Optics, Volume 6, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 8 articles

Platycodonis radix is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) material. Its bioactive compounds and medicinal value are closely related to its geographical origin. The internal components of Platycodonis radix from different origins are different due to the influence of environmental factors such as soil and climate. These differences can affect the medicinal value. Therefore, accurate identification of Platycodonis radix origin is crucial for drug safety and scientific research. Traditional methods of identification of TCM materials, such as morphological identification and physicochemical analysis, cannot meet the efficiency requirements. Although emerging technologies such as computer vision and spectroscopy can achieve rapid detection, their accuracy in identifying the origin of Platycodonis radix is limited when relying solely on RGB images or spectral features. To solve this problem, we aim to develop a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate method for origin identification of Platycodonis radix using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with deep learning. We captured hyperspectral images of Platycodonis radix slices in 400–1000 nm range, and proposed a deep learning classification model based on these images. Our model uses one-dimensional (1D) convolution kernels to extract spectral features and two-dimensional (2D) convolution kernels to extract spatial features, fully utilizing the hyperspectral data. The average accuracy has reached 96.2%, significantly better than that of 49.0% based on RGB images and 81.8% based on spectral features in 400–1000 nm range. Furthermore, based on hyperspectral images, our model’s accuracy is 14.6%, 8.4%, and 9.6% higher than the variants of VGG, ResNet, and GoogLeNet, respectively. These results not only demonstrate the advantages of HSI in identifying the origin of Platycodonis radix, but also demonstrate the advantages of combining 1D convolution and 2D convolution in hyperspectral image classification. Full article

The complex aquatic environment attenuates light transmission, thereby limiting the detection range of underwater laser systems. To address the challenges of limited operational distance and significant light energy attenuation, this study investigates optimized underwater lighting and imaging applications using a combined tricolor RGB (RED-GREEN-BLUE) white laser source. First, accounting for the attenuation characteristics of water, we propose a power-compensated white laser system based on transmission distance and underwater imaging theory. Second, underwater experiments are conducted utilizing both standard D65 white lasers and the proposed power-compensated white lasers, respectively. Finally, the theory is validated by assessing image quality metrics of the captured underwater imagery. The results demonstrate that a low-power (0.518 W) power-compensated white laser achieves a transmission distance of 5 m, meeting the requirements for a long-range, low-power imaging light source. Its capability for independent adjustment of the three-color power output fulfills the lighting demands for specific long-distance transmission scenarios. These findings confirm the advantages of power-compensated white lasers in long-range underwater detection and refine the characterization of white light for underwater illumination. Full article

The optical microscope is an indispensable observation instrument that has fundamentally contributed to progress in science and technology. Dark-field microscopy and scattered light imaging techniques enable high-contrast observation of nanoparticles in water. However, the scattered light is focused by the optical lenses, resulting in a blurred image of the nanoparticle structure. Here, we developed a projection optical microscope (PROM), which directly observes the scattered light from the nanoparticles without optical lenses. In this method, the sample is placed below the focus position of the microscope’s objective lens and the projected light is detected by an image sensor. This enables direct observation of the sample with a spatial resolution of approximately 20 nm. Using this method, changes in the aggregation state of nanoparticles in solution can be observed at a speed faster than the video frame rate. Moreover, the mechanism of such high-resolution observation may be related to the quantum properties of light, making it an interesting phenomenon from the perspective of optical engineering. We expect this method to be applicable to the observation and analysis of samples in materials science, biology and applied physics, and thus to contribute to a wide range of scientific, technological and industrial fields. Full article

The Volume Bragg Grating (VBG) imaging technique provides a novel approach to gaze-type hyperspectral imaging. However, collimation constraints of the incident beam during narrow-band filtering and high-spatial-resolution imaging introduce system complexity, hindering miniaturization and modularization of the optical system. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a convex transmissive VBG structure with tunable design parameters to enhance the field of view (FOV), relax collimation requirements, improve imaging quality, narrow filter spectral bandwidth, and simplify the optical system design. For the precise analysis and optimization of convex VBG performance, we established a physical model for filtered imaging using a convex transmissive VBG with polychromatic extended sources. An evaluation metric termed the “Maximal Splitting Angle (MSA)” was introduced to quantify the dispersion extent of image spots. This approach was employed to investigate the intrinsic correlations between structural parameters (such as the radius of curvature, vector tilt angle, grating period, and thickness) and key system performance indicators (spatial resolution and spectral resolution). The necessity of optimizing these parameters was rigorously demonstrated. Theoretical analysis confirms that convex transmissive VBG achieves superior spatial and spectral resolution over planar VBG under reduced collimation constraints. The experimental results show a 58.5% enhancement in spatial resolution and a 63.6% improvement in spectral bandwidth for the convex transmissive VBG system. Crucially, while planar transmissive VBG suffers from stray fringe interference during wavelength tuning, its convex counterpart remains unaffected. This study proposes a novel device structure, offering new perspectives for optimizing VBG-filtered spectral imaging systems. Full article

Traditionally, retrieving both temperature and CO₂ concentration in atmospheric remote sensing has relied on two independent lidar systems, leading to increased system complexity and limited coordination. To address this challenge, we propose a coordinated retrieval approach using a three-wavelength differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system. A temperature-sensitive wavelength is selected to distinguish strong absorption from weak absorption, forming the tri-wavelength configuration. By exploiting the different sensitivities of absorption cross-sections to thermal and molecular variations, simultaneous retrieval of both parameters is achieved. A standard atmospheric profile under clean-air conditions is constructed. The CO₂ absorption spectrum near 1573 nm is generated using Voigt line shapes and data from the HITRAN database. Extinction and backscatter coefficients are retrieved through the Klett method. A layer-by-layer solution of the coupled differential equations is then performed to extract temperature and concentration simultaneously. Results are benchmarked against the atmospheric model, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach. This method provides a promising pathway for high-precision, multi-parameter DIAL sensing. Full article

Wireless optical communication technology offers advantages, such as high-data transmission rates, confidentiality, and robust anti-interception capabilities, making it highly promising for cross-sea–air interface communication applications. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on the spatial transmission efficiency of light after it passes through ocean waves. To address this issue, a seawater-wave–atmosphere model based on Gerstner waves was constructed. Using the Monte Carlo method, the optical power distributions of the laser light passing through the sea–air interface at the first- and second-level sea scales were simulated. The optimal positions for deploying one to three receiving optical systems were analyzed, and a laser communication receiving system was designed. Furthermore, simulations were conducted to determine the optical transmission efficiency of the designed optical receiver system. At the first-level sea scale, the optimal position for a single-point detector was (0°, ±5.61°), whereas those for the two detectors were (0°, ±5.61°) and (0°, ±5.68°). At the second-level sea scale, the optimal position for a single-point detector was (0°, ±3.17°), and the optimal positions for the two detectors were (0°, ±3.1°) and (0°, ±2.98°). Under the designed conditions, the optical transmission efficiency for a single detector at the first- and second-level sea scales was 0.74–0.88%, respectively, while it was 0.79–1.09% in the two-detector case. At the second-level sea scale, the optical transmission efficiency for a single detector was 0.37–2.09% and 0.50–1.97% in the two-detector case. Full article

The use of magnetic materials, such as ferrofluids, is of great importance in biomedical applications, and as a result, interest in studying their magneto-optical properties has grown significantly in recent years. Therefore, in this work, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized with chitosan coating, leaving the product as a ferrofluid in aqueous solution. Structural, morphological, magnetic, and optical characterization was carried out obtaining a cubic structure centered on the faces, a spherical morphology with a size distribution of 10–14 nm according to TEM images and a magnetic saturation of 53 emu/g. In the optical properties, the effect of chitosan shell on the forbidden band was studied, showing a blue-shifting effect, due to reduction on the inner magnetic nanoparticles size. Full article

Zinc oxide (ZnO), a wide-bandgap semiconductor, has garnered significant interest for photocatalytic applications due to its excellent chemical stability, non-toxicity, and strong oxidative capability. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to explore the impact of ruthenium (Ru) doping on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of wurtzite ZnO. The introduction of Ru leads to bandgap narrowing and the emergence of impurity states, thereby enhancing visible light absorption. Charge density analysis reveals enhanced electron delocalization, while the projected density of states (PDOS) indicates strong hybridization between the Ru 4d orbitals and the ZnO electronic states. The density of states at the Fermi level, N(EF), exhibits a notable dependence on doping concentration and magnetic configuration. For non-magnetic states, N(EF) reaches 11 states/eV and 9.5 states/eV at 12.5% and 25% Ru concentrations, respectively. In ferromagnetic configurations, these values decrease to 0.65 states/eV and 1.955 states/eV, while antiferromagnetic states yield 4.945 states/eV and 0.65 states/eV. These variations highlight Ru’s crucial role in regulating electronic density, thereby affecting electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, and photocatalytic efficiency. The results offer theoretical guidance for designing high-performance Ru-doped ZnO photocatalysts. Full article