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Kishan Dholakia

Publications and source records attributed to Kishan Dholakia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Enhancing Speckle Metrology with Diffusion Denoising in Photon-Starved Regimes

Laser speckle is a powerful tool for precision metrology that enables highly sensitive measurements of light sources and subtle environmental perturbations. Many applications require operation in photon-limited regimes, for example when using low-power illumination or in spectral regions where sensitive detectors are unavailable. In these conditions, the structured speckle pattern that encodes the signal becomes challenging to disentangle from measurement noise, severely degrading performance. Here, we introduce a denoising framework to separate measurement noise from the underlying speckle structure in low-signal data. Using a hybrid pre-training and experimental fine-tuning strategy, the model is adapted using a small experimental dataset and integrates directly with existing speckle metrology pipelines. Applied to femtometre-scale wavelength sensing using an integrating sphere, the approach reduces root-mean-square error in low-signal conditions by up to 72% and enables accurate reconstruction where conventional speckle metrology fails.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Ultra-high precision speckle spectrometer enabling radio-frequency scale resolution of atomic spectra

Laser speckle, the granular intensity pattern arising from random optical interference, provides a high-dimensional encoding of spectral information that can be exploited for precision metrology. Speckle-based spectrometers have advanced rapidly owing to their compact footprint, mechanical robustness and alignment agnostic nature, yet their spectral resolution has remained limited to the picometre scale. In this work, we break this limit by employing an integrating sphere as a multiply scattering cavity with access to a high range of path lengths to enhance spectral sensitivity. At 780$\,$nm, the resulting device achieves a resolution of 6$\,$fm, corresponding to a resolving power of $1.3\times10^8$, representing an approximately 80-fold improvement over previous implementations. This ultra-high resolution enables clear discrimination of laser sidebands generated by an electro-optical modulator, with extracted sideband powers agreeing with expected values to within 1%. It further permits the first direct speckle-based measurement of the hyperfine structure of the $\text{D}_{2}$ transition in $^{85}\text{Rb}$, with transmission spectra differing by no more than 3.6% from independent wavemeter-referenced measurements. These results establish speckle as a new platform for ultra-high precision spectroscopy, radio-frequency spectrometry, and microwave photonics.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Through-bottle spectroscopy as a tool for quality control and anti-counterfeiting of Brandy and Cognac

Counterfeiting of premium spirits poses significant economic and health risks, that could be tackled by robust, accurate, portable and non-destructive through-bottle measurements. Here, we demonstrate the capability of focus-matched inverse spatially offset spectroscopy, combining fluorescence and Raman signals, for authenticating Cognac and Brandy. The technique accurately identifies age classification, bottling year, spoilage due to elevated storage temperatures, and distinguishes between Cognac brands. Critically, our method effectively differentiates genuine Cognacs from counterfeit products, correctly identifying 98% of counterfeit samples. This shows the promise of through-bottle spectroscopy as a powerful tool for supply chain integrity and consumer protection in the high-value spirits market.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Through the bottle authentication of red wine using near-IR fluorescence spectroscopy

A major unaddressed challenge for food science remains the accurate characterisation of contents in sealed containers with a non-invasive method. This issue is particularly pressing for tackling fraud in the red wine industry, valued at billions of dollars globally, where product authenticity, brand reputation, and consumer trust are paramount. Whilst many techniques exist for authenticating wine externally, to date performing accurate classification of the contents within unopened bottles remains elusive. Using only a single near-infrared optical excitation source operating at a wavelength of 785 nm, in combination with a bespoke geometry to circumvent the confounding signal of the glass, we demonstrate that through-bottle fluorescence spectra can distinguish between twenty different red wines in their original, intact bottles. All twenty wine bottles were correctly classified with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed strong varietal grouping. This non-invasive and rapid technique has the potential to enable on-site, routine wine authentication to combat the growing issue of wine fraud. The geometry itself is applicable across multiple fields for the analysis of other high-value products through their packaging, where authenticity verification is critical.

physics.app-ph↗
arXiv2025

Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors for Enhanced Biomedical Imaging

Significance: Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs; also known as SSPDs) show enormous promise for low-light biomedical imaging by offering exceptional sensitivity, picosecond timing resolution, and broad spectral coverage. Aim: This perspective evaluates the role of SNSPDs by comparing their performance with other photon-counting detectors for emerging biomedical imaging applications. Approach: We outline the need for ultrasensitive detectors for biophotonics, summarize SNSPD operating principles and compare their performance with established photon-counting devices. We highlight applications in which SNSPDs enable new imaging capabilities and discuss system-level challenges and technological developments that are critical to future applications, including clinical translation. Results: SNSPDs offer advantages in signal-to-noise ratio, temporal precision, and detection bandwidth, enabling deeper tissue imaging, high-precision fluorescence lifetime measurements, and quantum-enhanced imaging modalities. Advances in scalable arrays, cryogenic miniaturization, and improved signal collection are reducing barriers to widespread adoption. Conclusions: SNSPDs are poised to transform photon-limited biomedical imaging. As device performance and system integration continue to advance, their adoption in imaging platforms is expected to accelerate. Combining SNSPDs with advancements in the excitation pathway, such as structured-light excitation with Bessel beams, aberration correction, and wavefront shaping, shows promise for delivering unprecedented imaging capabilities and broadening both the preclinical and clinical utility of these detectors.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2025

Non-invasive optical quantification of methanol in bottled spirits

Food and beverage contamination poses a persistent global threat. A prime example is the presence of methanol in counterfeit or illicit spirits, causing severe and often fatal poisoning worldwide. Rapid, non-destructive, and on-site screening methods capable of molecular analysis directly through commercial packaging are therefore urgently needed for quality control and consumer safety. Here, we introduce a non-invasive optical approach based on Raman spectroscopy that judiciously combines wavefront shaping with wavelength modulation to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and enable quantification of methanol in unopened bottled spirits. A limit of detection of 0.2% (v/v) methanol in 40% ethanol was achieved, well below the 2% (v/v) threshold for safe human consumption. This truly non-invasive method remains robust through coloured glass bottles, with calibration validated in a real spirit sample. By enabling through-container methanol detection, the technique offers a practical tool to protect consumers and streamline routine screening across the beverage supply chain. Moreover, this Raman geometry establishes a versatile platform for assessing authenticity, composition, and contaminants directly through packaging.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2025

Sensing with Twisted Light: Precision Measurement of Fractional Azimuthal Index to Determine Refractive Index

Light beams possessing orbital angular momentum (OAM) have gained significant interest in areas such as optical manipulation, quantum entanglement, and super-resolved imaging. In itself, the OAM for a Laguerre-Gaussian beam is proportional to the azimuthal index of the light field, $l$. It is in fact continuous in nature and a non-trivial parameter to measure. The ability to determine $l$ precisely would broaden the use of such beams for new applications. In this study, we generate Laguerre-Gaussian beams of differing $l$ through mode conversion using microscopic spiral phase plates (SPPs). The exact value of $l$ imparted for a given incident wavelength is dependant upon the refractive index of the media within which the SPP is immersed. Here, we show an ultra-precise approach based on laser speckle to measure the azimuthal index of these generated beams to a precision of $2\,{\times}\,10^{-5}$. This is an improvement of three orders of magnitude over previous studies. In turn, this leverages an ultra-precise measurement of the refractive index of the medium surrounding the SPP, with a best measured precision of $6.4\,{\times}\,10^{-7}$\,refractive index units. This is confirmed to be at the shot-noise limit of the system. Our study interrogates samples of sucrose and haemoglobin, only 300\,pL in volume, within a microfluidic channel. This demonstration of an original form of microfluidic refractive index sensor, based on mode conversion to light fields with OAM, may be multiplexed to measure spatio-temporal variations and gradients within biological samples.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2025

The Radiation Pressure of Light: historical perspectives and the role of structured light

Light, or electromagnetic radiation, is well known to possess momentum, and the exchange of this momentum with a reflecting surface leads to radiation pressure. More often than not, it is the radiation pressure generated by a plane wave incident on a flat mirror that is considered. The last few decades have seen the emergence of structured light beams that may possess a complex phase and amplitude structure in both their transverse and longitudinal directions. This paper provides a historical overview of radiation pressure, tracing its discovery and experimental validation, and examines how transitioning to structured light from a plane wave can influence it. In particular, we elucidate the difference in radiation pressure force for structured light fields and how this differs from that of a plane wave at an identical frequency. In particular, the well-known Gouy phase is shown to contribute to a reduction in the radiation pressure force exerted on a flat mirror in comparison to a plane wave for both HG and LG modes. As an illustrative example, we compute that the radiation pressure force for LG modes differs from that of a plane wave by approximately $20$ fN/W for each unit of orbital angular momentum. A detailed experimental proposal to quantify this variance in radiation pressure is described, and we demonstrate that this measurement is within the realm of current metrological techniques.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2025

A neuromorphic camera for tracking passive and active matter with lower data throughput

We demonstrate the merits of using a neuromorphic, or event-based camera (EBC), for tracking of both passive and active matter. For passive matter, we tracked the Brownian motion of different micro-particles and estimated their diffusion coefficient. For active matter, we explored the case of tracking murine spermatozoa and extracted motility parameters from the motion of cells. This has applications in enhancing outcomes for clinical fertility treatments. Using the EBC, we obtain results equivalent to those from an sCMOS camera, yet achieve a reduction in file size of up to two orders of magnitude. This is important in the modern computer era, as it reduces data throughput, and is well-aligned with edge-computing applications. We believe the EBC is an excellent choice, particularly for long-term studies of active matter.

q-bio.QM↗
arXiv2024

Optimising image capture for low-light widefield quantitative fluorescence microscopy

Low-light optical imaging refers to the use of cameras to capture images with minimal photon flux. This area has broad application to diverse fields, including optical microscopy for biological studies. In such studies, it is important to reduce the intensity of illumination to reduce adverse effects such as photobleaching and phototoxicity that may perturb the biological system under study. The challenge when minimising illumination is to maintain image quality that reflects the underlying biology and can be used for quantitative measurements. An example is the optical redox ratio which is computed from autofluorescence intensity to measure metabolism. In all such cases, it is critical for researchers to optimise selection and application of scientific cameras to their microscopes, but few resources discuss performance in the low-light regime. In this tutorial, we address the challenges in optical fluorescence imaging at low-light levels for quantitative microscopy, with an emphasis on live biological samples. We analyse the performance of specialised low-light scientific cameras such as the EMCCD, qCMOS, and sCMOS, while considering the differences in platform architecture and the contribution of various sources of noise. The tutorial covers a detailed discussion of user-controllable parameters, as well as the application of post-processing algorithms for denoising. We illustrate these concepts using autofluorescence images of live mammalian embryos captured with a two-photon light sheet fluorescence microscope.

q-bio.QM↗
arXiv2024

Optical Manipulation of Whispering Gallery Mode Microlasers for Precision Controlled Cellular Delivery

Whispering gallery mode microlasers are known for their high Q-factors, characteristic emission spectra and sensitivity to local refractive index changes. This sensitivity combined with the ability of various cell types to internalise these microlasers provide unique opportunities for advanced biological studies, e.g. in single-cell tracking and intracellular sensing. Despite many advancements, achieving precise delivery of lasers to cells remains challenging, with traditional methods, such as microinjection, often also resulting in cellular damage. Here, we show that optical trapping is a promising solution for microlaser manipulation and therefore for their controlled and non-invasive delivery to target cells. By integrating optical trapping with microlaser-based refractive index sensing, we study the dynamics of microlaser-uptake by cells. We also find that in some cases the peaks in the emission spectra of our microlasers broaden, split, and shift, and we assign this to local inhomogeneities in refractive index surrounding the microlaser. This shows how optical trapping can further expand the unique toolkit offered by biointegrated whispering gallery mode microlasers.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2024

Determining intrinsic sensitivity and the role of multiple scattering in speckle metrology

Speckle patterns are a powerful tool for high-precision metrology, as they allow remarkable performance in relatively simple setups. Nonetheless, researchers in this field follow rather distinct paths due to underappreciated general principles underlying speckle phenomena. Here, we advise on a universal metric of intrinsic speckle sensitivity, and on the advantages and disadvantages of multiple scattering. This will catalyse progress in speckle metrology but will also translate to other domains of disordered optics which are undergoing rapid developments at present.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2023

Learning algorithms for identification of whisky using portable Raman spectroscopy

Reliable identification of high-value products such as whisky is an increasingly important area, as issues such as brand substitution (i.e. fraudulent products) and quality control are critical to the industry. We have examined a range of machine learning algorithms and interfaced them directly with a portable Raman spectroscopy device to both identify and characterize the ethanol/methanol concentrations of commercial whisky samples. We demonstrate that machine learning models can achieve over 99% accuracy in brand identification across twenty-eight commercial samples. To demonstrate the flexibility of this approach we utilised the same samples and algorithms to quantify ethanol concentrations, as well as measuring methanol levels in spiked whisky samples. Our machine learning techniques are then combined with a through-the-bottle method to perform spectral analysis and identification without requiring the sample to be decanted from the original container, showing the practical potential of this approach to the detection of counterfeit or adulterated spirits and other high value liquid samples.

cs.LG↗
arXiv2023

Fano resonance-assisted all-dielectric array for enhanced near-field optical trapping of nanoparticles

Near-field optics can overcome the diffraction limit by creating strong optical gradients to enable the trapping of nanoparticles. However, it remains challenging to achieve efficient stable trapping without heating and thermal effects. Dielectric structures have been used to address this issue, but they usually offer weak trap stiffness. In this work, we exploit the Fano resonance effect in an all-dielectric quadrupole nanostructure to realize a twenty-fold enhancement of trap stiffness, compared to the off-resonance case. This enables a high effective trap stiffness of $1.19$ fN/nm for 100 nm diameter polystyrene nanoparticles with 3.5 mW/$μ$m$^{2}$ illumination. Furthermore, we demonstrate the capability of the structure to simultaneously trap two particles at distinct locations within the nanostructure array.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2023

Snapshot hyperspectral imaging of intracellular lasers

Intracellular lasers are emerging as powerful biosensors for multiplexed tracking and precision sensing of cells and their microenvironment. This sensing capacity is enabled by quantifying their narrow-linewidth emission spectra, which is presently challenging to do at high speeds. In this work, we demonstrate rapid snapshot hyperspectral imaging of intracellular lasers. Using integral field mapping with a microlens array and a diffraction grating, we obtain images of the spatial and spectral intensity distribution from a single camera acquisition. We demonstrate widefield hyperspectral imaging over a 3$\times$3 mm$^2$ field of view and volumetric imaging over 250$\times$250$\times$800 $μ$m$^3$ volumes with a spatial resolution of 5 $μ$m and a spectral resolution of less than 0.8 nm. We evaluate the performance and outline the challenges and strengths of snapshot methods in the context of characterising the emission from intracellular lasers. This method offers new opportunities for a diverse range of applications, including high-throughput and long-term biosensing with intracellular lasers.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2022

Roadmap for Optical Tweezers

Optical tweezers are tools made of light that enable contactless pushing, trapping, and manipulation of objects ranging from atoms to space light sails. Since the pioneering work by Arthur Ashkin in the 1970s, optical tweezers have evolved into sophisticated instruments and have been employed in a broad range of applications in life sciences, physics, and engineering. These include accurate force and torque measurement at the femtonewton level, microrheology of complex fluids, single micro- and nanoparticle spectroscopy, single-cell analysis, and statistical-physics experiments. This roadmap provides insights into current investigations involving optical forces and optical tweezers from their theoretical foundations to designs and setups. It also offers perspectives for applications to a wide range of research fields, from biophysics to space exploration.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2022

Asymmetric longitudinal optical binding force between two identical dielectric particles with electric and magnetic dipolar responses

In general,the optical binding force between identical particles is thought to be symmetric.However,we demonstrate analytically a counter-intuitively asymmetric longitudinal optical binding force between two identical dual dipolar dielectric particles.This homodimer is confined in two counter-propagating incoherent plane waves along the dimer's axis.The force consists of the electric dipolar,magnetic dipolar,and electric-magnetic dipolar coupling interactions.The combined effect of these interactions is markedly different than the expected behavior in the Rayleigh approximation.The asymmetric force is a result of the asymmetric forward and backward scattering of the particles due to the dipolar hybridization and coupling interactions.Consequently,it leads to a harmonic driving force on the pair,which decays with the interparticle distance to the first power.We show the rich nonequilibrium dynamics of the dimer and of the two particles impelled by the driving and binding forces and discuss the ranges of particle refractive index and size in which the asymmetric binding force arises.Our results open perspectives for nonequilibrium light-driven multiparticle transport and self-assembly.

physics.optics↗