Carla Langella

Architect, PhD, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design

Name Carla
Surname Langella
Institution Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
E-Mail carla.langella@unicampania.it
Address Department of Architecture and Industrial Design (DADI), via Roma, 29 Aversa Caserta 81031
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Carla Langella

Member PUBLICATIONS

  • Biologically enabled sub-diffractive focusing.

    Publication Date: 03/11/2014 on Optics express
    by De Tommasi E, De Luca AC, Lavanga L, Dardano P, De Stefano M, De Stefano L, Langella C, Rendina I, Dholakia K, Mazilu M
    DOI: 10.1364/OE.22.027214

    Evolution shows that photonic structures are a constituent part of many animals and flora. These elements produce structural color and are useful in predator-prey interactions between animals and in the exploitation of light for photosynthetic organisms. In particular, diatoms have evolved patterned hydrated silica external valves able to confine light with extraordinary efficiency. Their evolution was probably guided by the necessity to survive in harsh conditions of sunlight deprivation. Here, we exploit such diatom valves, in conjunction with structured illumination, to realize a biological super-resolving lens to achieve sub-diffractive focusing in the far field. More precisely, we consider a single diatom valve of Arachnoidiscus genus which shows symmetries and fine features. By characterizing and using the transmission properties of this valve using the optical eigenmode technique, we are able to confine light to a tiny spot with unprecedented precision in terms of resolution limit ratio, corresponding in this case to 0.21λ/NA.