Lensless light focusing with the centric marine diatom Coscinodiscus walesii

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.15.018082
• Publication Date: 2007-12-21T14:43:20Z
• Authors: Luca De Stefano; Ilaria Rea; Ivo Rendina; Mario De Stefano; Luigi Moretti
• Keywords: Microlens; Achromatic lens

In this work, we report on the light focusing ability exploited by microshell of a marine organism: Coscinodiscus wailesii diatom. A 100 microm spot size red laser beam is narrowed up to less than 10 at distance 104 after transmission through regular geometry diatom structure, which thus acts as microlens. Numerical simulations electromagnetic field propagation show good qualitative agreement with experimental results. The effect due superposition waves scattered holes present surface valve. Very interesting applications in micro-optic devices are feasible morphological and biological characteristic these unicellular organisms.