I am an Optics Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. My research was in the field of precision optical metrology, where I worked in optical/illumination design, image processing, and optomechanical engineering. Prior to this, I graduated from Duke University as a first-gen college student. See: [CV] [Resume] [Google Scholar].
Current Role: I develop optical diagnostic modules for EUV lithography light sources at ASML.
I worked with the Large Optics Fabrication and Testing Group (LOFT) on exciting and super rad techniques to measure freeform optics. I defended in November 2022 and my defense slides and official dissertation are publically available.
1. L.R. Graves, H. Quach, H. Choi, and D.W. Kim, "Infinite deflectometry enabling 2π-steradian measurement range," Opt. Express 27, 7602-7615 (2019). [Optica Spotlight, April 2019]
2. L.R. Graves , H.Quach, R.J. Koshel, C.J. Oh, and D.W. Kim, "High contrast thermal deflectometry using long-wave infrared time modulated integrating cavity source," Opt. Express 27, 28660-28678 (2019).
3. D.W. Kim, G. Smith, M. Dubin, A. Lowman, C.J. Oh, H. Quach, H. Kang, H. Yoo, I. Trumper, L.R. Graves, M. Aftab, C. Davila-Peralta, J. Hyatt, and H. Choi, "Advances in reconfigurable optical metrology, characterization, and data analysis," Journal of Physics: Photonics (2020).
4. D.W. Kim, H. Choi, T. Brendel, H. Quach, M. Esparza et al., "Advances in Optical Engineering for Future Telescopes," Opto-Electronic Advances (2021). [Featured Article in AAAS EurekaAlert, July 2021]
5. H. Kang, H. Quach, J. Berkson, M. Aftab, H. Choi, D.W. Kim, "Computational fiducial using G and C vector polynomials for alignment of deflectometry system," Optics Letters (2021).
6. H. Quach , H. Kang, S. Sirsi, A. Chandra, H. Choi, M. Esparza, K. Karrfalt, J. Berkson, Y. Takashima, A. Palisoc, J.W. Arenberg, C. Walker, C. d'Aubigny, D.W. Kim, "Surface Measurement of a Large Inflatable Reflector in Cryogenic Vacuum," Photonics (2021). [Front Page Article of Photonics, February 2022]
7. H. Quach, H. Kang, B. Jeong, H. Choi, D. Kim, "Non-Planar Illumination Deflectometry for Axicon Metrology," Optics Letters (2022)
8. S. Ordones, J. Park, H. Quach, D. Kim, H. Choi, "Spatial-temporal phase demodulation decoding superimposed ghost reflections in optical testing," Optics Letters (2022)
9. S. Sirsi, H. Quach, H. Choi, D. Kim, Y. Takashima, C. Walker, "Modeling and Characterization of OASIS Inflatable Primary Antenna by Dual Modality Metrology," Optics Express (September 2022)
10. B. Jeong, S. Ordones, H. Quach, D. Kim, H. Choi, "Digital filtering of ghost signal in phase measuring deflectometry," Optics Letters (2023). [Optica Editor's Pick, March 2023]
11. J. Berkson, J. Hyatt, H. Kang, S. Ordones, H. Quach, D. Kim, "Binocular fringe projection profilometry for the metrology of meter-scale optical surfaces" Optics Continuum (March 2023)
1. D.W. Kim, M. Aftab, I. Trumper, L.R. Graves, H. Quach, H. Kang, X. Guo, and H. Choi, "Programmatic Large Precision Optics Manufacturing," International Conference on Optics and Electro-Optics (2019).
2. D.W. Kim, M. Aftab, I. Trumper, L.R. Graves, H.Quach, H. Kang, H. Yoo, A. Lowman, G. Smith, M. Dubin, C.J. Oh, J. Hyatt, C. Davila-Peralta, H.J. Choi "Reconfigurable dynamic optical system design, test, and data analysis," SPIE Photonics Europe 11352 (2020).
3. H. Quach, L.R. Graves, H. Kang, D.W. Kim "Electrically-Modulated optoelectronics-based infrared source enabling ground surface precision deflectometry," Advances in Optoelectronic Technology and Industry Development (2020).
4. D.W. Kim, C.K. Walker, D. Apai, T.D. Milster, Y. Takashima, R. Liang, et al., "Disruptive space telescope concepts, designs, and developments: OASIS and Nautilus," EOSAM Frontiers in Optical Metrology (2020).
5. H. Quach, J. Berkson, S. Sirsi, H. Choi, R. Dominguez, B. Duffy, D. Lesser, Y. Takashima, A. Palisoc, C. Walker, D.W. Kim., "Full-Aperture Optical Metrology for Inflatable Membrane Mirrors," Optical Manufacturing and Testing XIII (2020).
6. H. Quach, H. Kang, H. Choi, D.W. Kim, "Non-Planar Illumination Sources for Deflectometry," Optical Manufacturing and Testing XIII (2020).
7. H. Kang, H. Quach, H. Choi, G. Smith, D.W. Kim, "Computational alignment of on-machine deflectometry," Optical Manufacturing and Testing XIII (2020).
8. D.W. Kim, M. Esparza, H. Quach, S. Rodriguez, H. Kang, Y. Feng, and H. Choi, "Optical Technology for Future Telescopes," International Conference on Photonics and Optical Engineering (2020).
9. J. Berkson, Z. Hatfield, A. St. Peter, H. Quach "Meter-Class Infrared Deflectometry for Visibly Non-Specular Surface Metrology," OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress (2021).
10. H. Quach, M. Esparza, et al. "Deflectometry-Based Thermal Vacuum Testing for a Pneumatic Terahertz Antenna," Astronomical Optics, Design, Manufacturing, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III. (2021)
11. A. Palosic et al. "Analytical and finite element analysis tool for nonlinear membrane antenna modeling for astronomical applications," Astronomical Optics, Design, Manufacturing, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III. (2021)
12. M. Esparza et al. "Stressed Deformable Reflector and Pneumatic Membrane Antenna for Thermal Vacuum Terahertz Wavefront Control and Measurement," Astronomical Optics, Design, Manufacturing, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III. (2021)
13. D. Kim et al. "Inflatable Space Terahertz Optics Technology," Frontiers in Optics & Photonics. (2021)
14. S. Sirsi et al. "Orbhttps://opg.optica.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-48-7-1642byeongiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS): A Paradigm Shift in Realizing Large Space Telescopes," Space Telescopes and Instrumentation: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave. (2022)
15. H. Quach, et al. “Influence of Lens and Perspective Distortion on Optical Surface Metrology Instrumentation," Optical Manufacturing and Testing XIV. (2022)
16. H. Choi, H. Kang, Y. Huang, M. Yoo, H. Quach, J. Kam, D. Kim “Advanced deflectometry methods for industrial application ," Industrial Optical Devices and Systems. (2023)
Senior Optical Sensing Engineer
EUV optical diagnostic module owner. Responsible for technical development, module integration and testing, industrialization, and handling field escalations for optical diagnostic laser + camera hardware.
Graduate Research Assistant
I worked on a variety of metrology techniques to measure highly challenging specular surfaces, such as convex mirrors and freeform optics. For the past two years, I have been developing advancements to a method called deflectometry, which measures highly sloped optics to nanometers with just a regular machine vision camera, an LCD display, and precision equipment to calibrate those tools. My research advanced the accuracy of the art and the variety of measurable surfaces.
Leaning on my strengths, I supported my labmates with help in optical system analysis, optomechanical design, illumination, and rapid prototyping. Conversely, I have leaned on them for other specialized areas such as lens design, aberration theory, and optical fabrication. It has been a happy existence in a productive, mutually-reinforcing environment.
Optical Scientist Intern
At Nikon Research, I worked with principal optical engineers and scientists towards the development of advanced optical architectures. On a given week, I applied optical design, geometrical optics, radiometric calibration, and image processing for optical system prototypes and their analysis. This work included plenty of high-powered lasers, high-speed cameras, lens design, and creative technical ideation.
Graduate Optical Engineering Intern
In Summer 2021, I was an optical engineering intern in LLNL’s LSEO (Laser Systems Engineering and Operations) division. My two amazing mentors that virtual summer were Dr. Sid Patankar from Laser Diagnostics and Dr. Stacie Manuel from the Optical Design Group. All of my time was spent on OTSL, or the Optical Thomson Scattering Laser, a gigawatt class deep UV laser (5\(\omega\), or 210 nm) used to probe the plasma generated during each hohlraum shot.
Most notably, I used FRED to conduct stray light analysis on OTSL. This subassembly included around 34 surfaces with prisms, mirrors, lenses, beamsplitters, blast windows, and a scattering aluminum chassis. I managed optical model geometries, coatings, baffles, and considered ghosts from multiple wavelength sources – at the target wavelength (5\(\omega\)), at residual harmonic multiples (1\(\omega\), 2\(\omega\), 3\(\omega\), 4\(\omega\)), and the broadband plasma spectrum. From tracing a few billion rays, I simulated and visualized families of ghost irradiance distributions with special attention to the influence of element piston/tip/tilt/wedge and defocus at the focal plane.
One of my best moments all summer was hearing that one of my simulated ghost families was a dead-on match with a previously unidentified experimental artifact observed by the OTSL alignment team. At the end of summer, my presentation 'Fantastic Ghosts and Where to Find Them' won the LSEO Division Summer Slam, won the Engineering Directorate Summer Slam, and was presented to a broad technical audience as one of several overall winners of the Lawrence Livermore National Lab's Summer Slam, 2021.
Mechanical Engineer
At Intuitive, I worked as a mechanical engineer on a variety of tasks for the instruments group. I designed, assembled, tested, and deployed a huge range of jigs, fixtures, and tooling to support processes engineering and testing for the da Vinci Xi Stapler, Suction Irrigator, and standard monopolar cutting instruments. I worked with suppliers, supplier engineers, project managers, manufacturing engineers, QA, machinists, and technicians alike to develop and maintain production of the product. My experience at Intuitive gave me a strong grasp of root-cause analysis, as well as a sense of how medium-volume manufacturing of complex electromechanical products is successfully accomplished. Shown above are two good friends who worked at Intuitive at the time, Emily and Vatsal, as well as Intuitive's CEO, Gary!
Studio Staff
During my senior year, I worked at Duke University's formal makerspace, called the Innovation Colab. My job was to talk to whoever came into our space and teach them how to make the things they wanted to make! I taught students (and professors!) how to use our 3D printers, CNCs, and laser cutters. I also tutored SolidWorks, Arduino, and web design. We were unofficially involved with many senior designs, engineering club projects, and a surprising number of gifts for long-distance relationships. The photo above was taken right before many of us graduated - Lucia, Mitch, Addison, Varun, Vinny, Grant, Chip, Ross, and Jenna. (We are missing Kris here :'( )
Advanced Product Development Intern
My first summer with Intuitive was spent on the Advanced Product Development (ADP) team, an R&D group working on a variety of cool robotics projects. Of the topics I can discuss, I designed automated precision assemblies that required the design of kinematic couplings. There, I modeled assemblies in SolidWorks, applied DFMA principles, completed machined parts drawings, conducted FEA studies, and held design reviews for new processes. I was really grateful to be taken under the wing of such incredible and kind people. My experience here was what pushed me take my first optics class ever and what eventually motivated me to apply for a Ph.D. in Optics. The APD interns (great friends and pranksters!) in the summer of 2016 included Natalie, Tae, myself, and Ehsan.
Spacesuit Engineering Intern
In the summer of 2015, I moved to Houston for 3 months to work on the Constellation Space Suit contracted by Oceaneering Space Systems. My primary assignment was to assist my mentor, Tammy, for her design of the suit controller assembly (SCA) for NASA's next generation space suit. I wrote readiness reviews, test procedures, and trade studies for mil-spec components for the SCA. Also, I used UI/UX software to revise controller menuing for intuitive usage, human-centered design, and organization of critical mission data. I was able to get an astronaut (Carl Walz) to use it and he gave me his feedback on my design! Preceding that fall's critical design review by NASA, a few of us (Sara, Kylar, myself, and Eric) were able to try on the actual spacesuit we were working on! We fondly recollect our group photos in these suits as "space prom".
Cleanroom Lab Assistant
Civil Engineering Intern
Office Assistant
M.S/Ph.D. in Optical Sciences
ARCS Foundation Scholar, Phoenix Chapter '22-'23; LLNL Summer Slam Winner '21
Member: OSA, SPIE, and ASPE
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Boeing Grand Challenges Fellow '16-'17
2013 - 2017Valedictorian; Most Worthy Argonaut
2009 - 2013