Delta 7
The Delta 7 is a transmissive wavefront modulator delivered with dedicated driving electronics and control software. It is designed for demanding wavefront shaping applications, where neither size nor performance can be compromised — available with a 10 mm or a 20 mm clear aperture.
Built on the Deformable Phase Plate
The Deformable Phase Plate (DPP), developed by Phaseform GmbH, is a fluidic chamber enclosed by a thin membrane, which is deformed by electrostatic force. The force is generated by a 2D array of transparent electrodes embedded within the optical aperture.
Key features
- Complex wavefront modulation63 electrodes enabling replication of up to the 7th radial order of Zernike polynomials (35 modes) with high fidelity
- Straightforward system integrationCompact housing for standard optomechanics: 7-1030 mm cage systems via rods, lens tubes and post assemblies7-20native M32 × 0.75 lens-tube threading — thread adapters for other standard optics threads on request
- Linear & hysteresis-free responseElectrostatic actuation suited for open-loop wavefront control
- Remarkable optical qualityActive best flat with an induced RMS wavefront error of less than λ/40 7-10in any DPP orientation7-20with the DPP mounted horizontally (optical axis vertical)
- Polarization-independentWavefront modulation independent of the light polarization for maximized efficiency
Delta 7 at a glance
Both apertures share the same optics, electronics and software. Pick one to read it on its own, or compare them side by side.
Where they differ
Specific to the Delta 7-10
Specific to the Delta 7-20
| Specification | Delta 7-10 | Delta 7-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Clear aperture diameter | 10 mm | 20 mm |
| Maximum peak-to-valley | > 7 µm | > 10 µm |
| RMS wavefront error of best flat | < 15 nmorientation independent | < 15 nmDPP horizontal, optical axis vertical |
Mounting
Delta 7-10
- Orientation
- Arbitrary — horizontal and vertical standard, other orientations upon request
- Interface
- 30 mm cage system rods, SM1 tubing and ⌀ 1/2″ posts
Delta 7-20
- Orientation
- Recommended horizontal only (optical axis vertical)
- Interface
- Native M32 × 0.75 female threading — custom female-to-male thread adapters for other standard optics threads upon request
Identical across both apertures
General
- 63 electrodes electrostatically actuate the Optofluidic DPP (Deformable Phase Plate)
- Connected via USB 2.0
- Included: driving electronics, control software, cables and manual
- Pre-calibrated — works in open loop
- Software: Python, MATLAB wrapper · Windows, Linux and macOS
- AR-coated membrane available as an option
Optical
- Maximum spatial frequency of modes: 7th radial order of Zernike modes
- Optical transmission 400 nm – 1700 nm · 80 % at λ = 500 nm
- Wavefront drift < 5 % after 60 min
- Polarization independent operation
- Laser-induced damage threshold 10 W/cm² for 10 s @ 1070 nm CW
Mechanical
- Thickness 0.87 mm within the clear aperture
- Response time < 40 ms — best flat to maximum deformation
- Hysteresis < 1 %
- Linearity > 92 %
Measured performance
Open-loop replication of Zernike modes — radial orders 1 to 7, 35 modes on both apertures.
Delta 7-10 — 10 mm clear aperture
Delta 7-20 — 20 mm clear aperture
Show all 35 modes — amplitude and modal purity
Generated Zernike modes in open loop
Maximum amplitude and modal purity of every mode the Delta 7 generates, measured interferometrically in open loop — no wavefront sensor in the path.
| Mode | Delta 7-10 | Delta 7-20 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta 7-10 RMS [µm] | Delta 7-10 PV [µm] | Delta 7-10 Purity | Delta 7-20 RMS [µm] | Delta 7-20 PV [µm] | Delta 7-20 Purity | |
| Z (1,−1)vertical tilt | 2 | 7 | 98% | 3 | 10 | 97% |
| Z (1,1)horizontal tilt | 2 | 7 | 97% | 3 | 10 | 97% |
| Z (2,−2)oblique astigmatism | 1 | 3.8 | 96% | 1.3 | 5.0 | 98% |
| Z (2,0)defocus | 1 | 3.8 | 96% | 1.3 | 5.0 | 98% |
| Z (2,2)vertical astigmatism | 1 | 3.8 | 96% | 1.3 | 5.0 | 98% |
| Z (3,−3)oblique trefoil | 0.5 | 2.5 | 94% | 0.6 | 3.1 | 95% |
| Z (3,−1)vertical coma | 0.5 | 1.7 | 94% | 0.6 | 2.5 | 95% |
| Z (3,1)horizontal coma | 0.5 | 1.7 | 93% | 0.6 | 2.5 | 95% |
| Z (3,3)vertical trefoil | 0.5 | 2.5 | 95% | 0.6 | 3.1 | 95% |
| Z (4,−4)oblique quadrafoil | 0.25 | 1.3 | 93% | 0.35 | 2.0 | 94% |
| Z (4,−2)oblique secondary astigmatism | 0.25 | 1.1 | 88% | 0.35 | 1.5 | 94% |
| Z (4,0)primary spherical | 0.25 | 1.2 | 91% | 0.35 | 1.5 | 94% |
| Z (4,2)vertical secondary astigmatism | 0.25 | 1.1 | 86% | 0.35 | 1.5 | 94% |
| Z (4,4)vertical quadrafoil | 0.25 | 1.3 | 94% | 0.35 | 2.0 | 94% |
| Z (5,−5)oblique pentafoil | 0.15 | 0.9 | 90% | 0.22 | 1.5 | 92% |
| Z (5,−3)oblique secondary trefoil | 0.15 | 0.7 | 84% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 92% |
| Z (5,−1)vertical secondary coma | 0.15 | 0.8 | 80% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 92% |
| Z (5,1)horizontal secondary coma | 0.15 | 0.8 | 80% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 92% |
| Z (5,3)vertical secondary trefoil | 0.15 | 0.7 | 82% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 92% |
| Z (5,5)vertical pentafoil | 0.15 | 0.9 | 90% | 0.22 | 1.5 | 92% |
| Z (6,−6)oblique hexafoil | 0.1 | 0.8 | 83% | 0.12 | 0.8 | 92% |
| Z (6,−4)oblique secondary quadrafoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.12 | 0.8 | 92% |
| Z (6,−2)oblique tertiary astigmatism | 0.07 | 0.5 | 77% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 82% |
| Z (6,0)secondary spherical | 0.1 | 0.6 | 77% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 82% |
| Z (6,2)vertical tertiary astigmatism | 0.07 | 0.5 | 73% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 82% |
| Z (6,4)vertical secondary quadrafoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.12 | 0.8 | 92% |
| Z (6,6)vertical hexafoil | 0.1 | 0.8 | 77% | 0.12 | 0.8 | 92% |
| Z (7,−7)oblique heptafoil | 0.07 | 0.6 | 74% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 90% |
| Z (7,−5)oblique secondary pentafoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 90% |
| Z (7,−3)oblique tertiary trefoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% |
| Z (7,−1)vertical tertiary coma | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% |
| Z (7,1)horizontal tertiary coma | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% |
| Z (7,3)vertical tertiary trefoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% |
| Z (7,5)vertical secondary pentafoil | 0.07 | 0.5 | 70% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 90% |
| Z (7,7)vertical heptafoil | 0.07 | 0.6 | 78% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 90% |
- Purity is the fraction of the target Zernike mode relative to the root-sum-square of all modes.
- Purity stays at or above 92 % through radial order 5 on the Delta 7-20 and at or above 80 % through order 5 on the Delta 7-10, and falls to about 70 % for the highest-order modes.
Optical transmission versus wavelength — identical for both apertures. The AR-coated membrane is available as an option.
GUI and SDK included
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- Python-based interface using serial communication
- Direct application of phase profiles using Zernike polynomial descriptions
Software Development Kit (SDK)
- Python scripting control interface
- MATLAB wrappers to execute Python functions
- Easy integration into custom control software
Mode input, surface profile and control panel.
Light-sheet microscopy with two Delta 7s
Using a Delta 7-10 in the excitation path of a light-sheet microscope to expand the effective field of view by modulating the Gaussian beam profile, and a Delta 7-20 in the detection path for wavefront coding to extend depth of field.
Courtesy of Prof. Pablo Loza-Alvarez and Dr. Gustavo Castro, SLN Lab, ICFO, Spain.
Delta 7 attached to an optical system using an SM1 threaded tube.
Turnkey sensorless adaptive optics
Turnkey software for real-time, image-based adaptive optics in microscopy — Phinden drives the Delta 7 directly from acquired images, inside your existing microscope control software.