Nico Deshler

Portfolio

Research & Projects

My research spans quantum optics, computational imaging, compressive sensing, and quantum optomechanics. Click any card to read the full description.

arXiv

Superresolution Quantum Sensing

We employ optical spatial mode demultiplexing (SPADE) to enhance localization and brightness estimation of sub-diffraction NV center ensembles. Our two-stage protocol projects the incoming field onto PSF-adapted and YKL spatial modes, improving emitter localization accuracy by 6x and brightness estimation by 2x compared to conventional focal-plane measurements.

arXiv

Quantum Limits of Exoplanet Discovery

We report the quantum information limits of exoplanet detection and localization via the Quantum Chernoff Exponent and QFIM. Systems eliminating only the fundamental telescope mode are quantum-optimal at high star-planet contrasts. The QFIM persists well below the diffraction limit, suggesting quantum-optimal coronagraphs can expand the domain of accessible exoplanets.

Optica

Quantum-Optimal Coronagraph

We implement a direct imaging coronagraph that rejects all light from an on-axis star using a double-pass spatial mode sorter, enabling precise sub-diffraction exoplanet localization at 1000:1 star-planet contrast.

Journal

Imaging-Based Quantum Optomechanics

We explore optical mode-sorting measurements to estimate the state of an oscillating optomechanical membrane. We model radiation-pressure back-action via a quantum Hamiltonian, with applications in cavity-free optomechanical metrology and active membrane cooling with structured illumination.

COSI 2023

Multi-Aperture Quantum Imaging

We demonstrate quantum modal imaging applied to multi-aperture systems for sub-Rayleigh point-source localization. The performance advantage of modal imaging over direct detection grows as constellation separations shrink and the system becomes more photon-starved.

GitHub

Compressive Quantum Imaging

Sub-diffraction incoherent imaging using adaptive quantum modal measurements with sparsity constraints.

COSI 2020

Multi-Sensor DiffuserCam

We augment mask-based camera reconstruction volumes using multi-sensor arrays. I derived the guiding mathematical model, designed the relay-lens/mirror optical assembly, and adapted DiffuserCam algorithms for structured erasures. Our 2x2 sensor prototype recovers wide-field images with only 8.6% of the pixels of a conventional lensed system.

JACS

MagLev Density Measurement

A cost-effective anti-Helmholtz MagLev instrument for high-throughput density measurement compatible with 96-well plates and consumer flatbed scanners. I designed the relay-lens and mirror optical assembly in SolidWorks and wrote MATLAB pipelines to extract sample densities from levitation data.

ASME

Aeromechanics of Jumping Crickets

Using 3D videogrammetry we tracked spider cricket CoM and limb trajectories throughout a jump. Drag force and net torque analysis revealed the cricket's aerial posture passively generates stabilizing restoring torques.

Programs and algorithms built in free time spanning computational graphics, fluid dynamics, aircraft design, and signal processing.

ShaderToy

Boids Algorithm

A minimal flocking model based on three per-timestep updates: cohesion, alignment, and collision avoidance. Tuning the relative weights produces dramatically different collective behaviors from tight murmurations to loose swarms.

ShaderToy

2D N-Body Gravity Simulator

A Forward-Euler N-body integrator in 2D. In two dimensions, gravity adopts a 1/r law rather than 1/r^2. A remarkable consequence: escape velocity is impossible in this regime.

ShaderToy

Voronoi Tessellation

Dynamic Voronoi tessellation: populate a plane with colored seeds, then color every point by its nearest seed. The resulting polygonal cell structure is a beautiful model for cellular patterns found throughout nature.

HIO Phase Retrieval

Implementation of the Hybrid Input-Output algorithm for the Phase Problem: recovering a scene's Fourier transform from modulus measurements alone. Convergence in a few hundred iterations, up to a global translation or reflection.

Design Report

E-VTOL Aircraft Design

Boeing PAV competition submission. The aircraft achieves VTOL capability by rotating a twin-propeller wing and redirecting an exhaust nozzle downward. CFD simulations characterized pressure profiles in both vertical and horizontal flight configurations.

ShaderToy

Mandelbrot Set Explorer

A point c belongs to the Mandelbrot set if it remains bounded under z to z^2 + c. Black regions are stable; surrounding regions are colored by divergence rate. Astounding fractal structure from a two-line recurrence relation.

Background-Oriented Schlieren

Two BOS algorithms applied to NASA video of supersonic T-38 Talons. Cross-correlation and optical flow methods both reveal the pressure-induced refractive index changes around supersonic shockwaves.

Report

Gouy Phase for HG Modes

Numerical study testing whether Boyd's geometric derivation of the Gouy phase extends to higher-order Hermite-Gauss modes. Result: the Boyd interpretation correctly predicts the net far-field Gouy phase for all modes, but fails at intermediate distances from the focus.

Essay

Bio-Inspired Wing Design

Measuring how primary feathers influence wingtip vorticity and induced drag using a home-built wind tunnel. XFLR5 flow simulations provided theoretical baselines for the aerodynamic efficiency measurements.

Final projects from graduate and undergraduate courses spanning physics, computer science, and optical sciences.

Project Page

Bubble Simulator

Light transport adapted to render chromatic dynamics of soap bubbles. Thin film interference is paired with 2D Navier-Stokes integration over a sphere to physically evolve the thickness distribution and update radiance per ray intersection.

Report

Cymatics and Waves

A new method for measuring wave propagation speed in soap membranes using a speaker, LED, and photodiode. At resonant frequencies, stroboscopic illumination renders the mode profile stationary, enabling identification of resonances and extraction of wave speed.

Project Page

Cloth Simulator

Perceptually realistic cloth simulation via a 2D point-mass / spring lattice integrated with Verlet methods. Handles scene and self-collisions with GPU shaders for near-real-time rendering.

Report

Helmholtz Resonator

Power-law fits of resonance frequency vs. cavity volume and neck length with Q-factor characterization. Theoretical predictions compare well against cavity-volume data.

Report

Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

Exploration of a PN-junction driven oscillatory circuit. Bifurcation diagrams reveal sequential period doubling; we identify a strange attractor and compute the largest Lyapunov exponent across the chaotic parameter range.

Report

Semiconductor Hall Effect

Temperature dependence of free carrier density, resistivity, and charge mobility in aluminum-doped germanium, measured using Van der Pauw Hall coefficient techniques.

Report

Quantum Super-Resolution

Expectation Maximization applied to incident photons to resolve two sub-Rayleigh point sources.

$Diffractive Neural Networks$

Report

Diffractive Neural Networks

Sub-Rayleigh image classification using diffractive optical neural networks, benchmarked against digital classifiers trained on spatial mode sorting and direct detection measurements.

Patented inventions spanning optical metrology, photonic integrated circuits, and UV decontamination systems.

WIPO

Sample Measurement with Mirrors

Anti-Helmholtz permanent magnets stratify biological samples in paramagnetic fluid by density; a 2F relay-lens and mirror array projects stratified samples onto a household flatbed scanner. Designed for cost-effective 96-well plate compatibility and point-of-care medical diagnostics.

Patent

PIC-Based Interferometric Transceiver

Unlike prior pairwise beam-combination PIC architectures, this design interferes multiple beams simultaneously. For a non-redundant aperture baseline, it samples Nx more spatial frequencies than conventional designs for the same number of input apertures.

USPTO

Interactive UV Decontamination System

A UV wand with a 3D computer vision system that computes delivered UV dosage per surface region in real time, providing quantitative decontamination guarantees displayed as a live colormap.

Hello, I'm Nico.

Research & Projects

Superresolution Quantum Sensing

Quantum Limits of Exoplanet Discovery

Quantum-Optimal Coronagraph

Imaging-Based Quantum Optomechanics

Multi-Aperture Quantum Imaging

Compressive Quantum Imaging

Multi-Sensor DiffuserCam

MagLev Density Measurement

Aeromechanics of Jumping Crickets

Boids Algorithm

2D N-Body Gravity Simulator

Voronoi Tessellation

HIO Phase Retrieval

E-VTOL Aircraft Design

Mandelbrot Set Explorer

Background-Oriented Schlieren

Gouy Phase for HG Modes

Bio-Inspired Wing Design

Bubble Simulator

Cymatics and Waves

Cloth Simulator

Helmholtz Resonator

Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

Semiconductor Hall Effect

Quantum Super-Resolution

Diffractive Neural Networks

Sample Measurement with Mirrors

PIC-Based Interferometric Transceiver

Interactive UV Decontamination System

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