AUTHOR=Gómez-Sarabia Cristina M. , Ojeda-Castañeda Jorge TITLE=Talbot-Lau devices: a reappraisal JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sensors VOLUME=4 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sensors/articles/10.3389/fsens.2023.1328490 DOI=10.3389/fsens.2023.1328490 ISSN=2673-5067 ABSTRACT=

The Talbot effect and the Lau effect have been usefully applied in optical interferometry, and for designing novel X-ray devices, as well as for implementing useful instruments for matter waves. In temporal optics, the above phenomena play a significant role for reconstructing modulated, optical short pulses that travel along a dispersive medium. We note that the Talbot-Lau devices can be spatial frequency tuned if one employs varifocal lenses as a nonmechanical technique. Thus, we identify a pertinent link between the Talbot-Lau sensors and the development of artificial muscle materials, for generating tunable lenses. Our discussion unifies seemly unrelated topics, for providing a global scope on the applications of the Talbot-Lau effect.