Silicon-based transmissive diffractive optical element

A silicon nitride (SiNx) membrane diffractive optical element (DOE) designed to exhibit beam-splitting and focusing behavior at visible wavelengths has been fabricated and tested. Since the fabrication process is based on silicon micromachining technology, the DOE is easily integrated with a laser diode chip and a photodiode chip on a silicon substrate to function as the hologram-laser-photodiode unit for use in the pickup head of a CD or DVD system. The SiNx film is deposited with low-pressure chemical-vapor deposition and the free-standing membrane is formed by KOH etching. The transmissive DOE showed a high diffraction efficiency (>20% for a binary-phase-level element). The experimental evaluation was in good agreement with the designed and modeled predictions.     

Influence of spectral dispersion parameters on the beam smoothing performance of a diffractive optical element

In this paper, a theoretical model to analyze the beam smoothing performance, realized by the smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) and the diffractive optical element (DOE), is set up with the use of the spatial frequency spectra of the far-field intensity distribution. The influences of the parameters of the SSD, for example, the frequency of the electrical field, the integration time and the angular dispersion of the diffraction grating, on the beam smoothing performance of the DOE are numerically analyzed. Furthermore, the phase distortion is considered, and the simulated results show the phase distortion should be changed during the integration time in order to obtain a good performance of beam smoothing.     

Multifunctional double-layered diffractive optical element

We propose a novel multifunctional double-layered diffractive optical element (DOE) based on the fractional Talbot effect. This DOE consists of two layers: one is the encoding layer, in which multiple sub-DOEs, i.e., multiple optical functions, are encoded; the other is the decoding layer, which is a properly designed Talbot illuminator. This DOE can perform each of the multiple optical functions one by one by shifting the encoding layer. Experimental results demonstrate that this method is efficient. This device should be highly interesting for integrated optics, optical interconnection, secure optical storage, and dynamic optical fiber communications.     

光谱色散匀滑技术对衍射光学器件束匀滑性能的影响

 模拟分析了光谱色散匀滑技术对衍射光学器件束匀滑性能的影响。光谱色散匀滑技术的使用提高了衍射光学器件的抗波前畸变能力,降低了对加工精度的高要求。光谱色散匀滑技术与衍射光学器件的联用有望满足惯性约束聚变对束匀滑性能的高要求。     

Multiphoton multifocal microscopy exploiting a diffractive optical element

Multiphoton multifocal microscopy (MMM) usually has been achieved through a combination of galvo scanners with microlens arrays, with rotating disks of microlens arrays, and cascaded beam splitters with asynchronous rastering of scanning mirrors. Here we describe the achievement of a neat and compact MMM by use of a high-diffraction-efficiency diffractive-optic element that generates a multiple-spot grid of uniform intensity to achieve higher fidelity in imaging of live cells at adequate speeds.     

Low divergent diffractive optical element for remote detection

The low divergent Dammann grating is researched for the potential applications in aerospace. A laserbeam writing system is developed for writing the low divergent Dammann grating. The uniformity and efficiency of the Dammann grating are presented in this letter. The novelty of this letter is to demonstrate a low-cost and effective method to fabricate low divergent Dammann grating.     

A diffractive optical element for shaping arbitrary beams

A design method is presented for an optical element that shapes an arbitrary collimated beam. The optical element consists of a pair of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). The outgoing beam is also collimated, and can have any desired intensity profile. The phase functions of the DOEs are computed by minimizing an appropriate cost function under an energy conservation constraint.     

Generation of optical vector beams with a diffractive optical element interferometer

We present a novel approach to generating radially and azimuthally polarized vector beams that utilize an interferometer constructed from two identical diffractive optical elements. The measured polarization properties of four vector beam states and their phase relationships are in good agreement with theoretical expectations. This interferometer is passively phase stable and robust, making it suitable for linear and nonlinear optical (superresolution) microscopy.     

Optimal design of a multilayer diffractive optical element for dual wavebands

A method for optimal design of a multilayer diffractive optical element (MLDOE) for dual-wide-waveband optical systems is presented with consideration of polychromatic integral diffraction efficiency (PIDE) and the weight factors of PIDE for each waveband. The design process and simulation of a MLDOE in mid-wave and long-wave IR are described, and the comparison of diffraction efficiency of the MLDOEs for different design wavelength pairs determined by different methods is given. This method can make the design process more rational and more reasonable and can give a better design result than that with the conventional design method.     

Wave-front control and aberration correction with a diffractive optical element

A method that permits aberration correction and wave-front reshaping with a diffractive optical element (DOE) is described. Two aligned DOE's made of two different dispersive materials are used. The different dispersions of the two materials in addition to freedom in choosing their thicknesses enables the chromatic aberration and the wave fronts to be manipulated. Design and simulation of such DOE's are described.     

Simultaneous multicolor image formation with a single diffractive optical element

A design for a novel diffractive optical element (DOE) that can reconstruct three different intensity patterns when it is illuminated by three different wavelengths is presented. If the chosen wavelengths are red, green, and blue, full-color reconstruction capability is obtained. Reconstruction is achieved in the near field (Fresnel domain). Computer simulation results as well as experimental evidence are presented, proving the capabilities of this novel DOE design procedure.     

Investigation of spectral bandwidth of optical parametric amplification

The spectral bandwidth of three-wave-mixing optical parametric amplification has been investigated. A general mathematical model for evaluating the spectral bandwidth of optical parametric amplification is developed with parametric bandwidth and gain bandwidth via three-wave noncollinear interactions. The spectral bandwidth is determined by expanding the wave-vector mismatch in a Taylor series and retaining terms through second order. The model takes into account the effects of crystal length, noncollinear angle, group velocity, group-velocity dispersion and gain coefficient. The relation between parametric bandwidth and gain bandwidth is clearly defined. The model is applied to a BBO OPA, a LBO OPA and a CLBO OPA. PACS 42.65.Yj; 42.65.Lm; 42.65.Ky; 42.60.By     

Investigation of diffractive optical element for shaping a Gaussian beam into a ring-shaped pattern

To convert a given single-mode He–Ne laser beam into a ring-shaped intensity distribution, a diffractive optical element with 16 levels was designed by YG amplitude-phase retrieval and iteration algorithm. This beam shaper is investigated experimentally and compared with the results of the computer design. The results show good conformity, and the measured diffraction efficiency is 87.2%. In addition, the diffractive effect is observed when the distance between diffractive optical element and CCD is changed.     

Design optimization of highly efficient spectrum-splitting and beam-concentrating diffractive optical element for lateral multijunction solar cells

Two improved algorithms are proposed to extend a diffractive optical element （DOE） to work under the broad spec- trum of sunlight. An optimum design has been found for the DOE, with a weighted average optical efficiency of about 6.8% better than that of the previous design. The optimization of designing high optical efficiency DOEs will pave the way for future designs of high-efficiency, low-cost lateral multijunction solar cells based on such a DOE.     

Three-dimensional dynamic optical manipulation by combining a diffractive optical element and a spatial light modulator

Since the introduction of computer-controlled spatial light modulators (SLMs), holographic optical tweezers have become an important tool for dynamic parallel optical manipulation. In this paper we clarify the usefulness of a new configuration for optical trapping that creates light patterns using the combination of a diffractive optical element (DOE) and an SLM. This configuration not only enables the use of the higher part of the SLM’s diffraction efficiency curve, because a simple hologram can be chosen for the SLM, but also achieves three-dimensional dynamic optical manipulation over a large spatial range. By switching blaze-like holograms displayed on the SLM, we demonstrated simultaneous transportation of three 6-μm-diameter polystyrene beads over a range of 90 μm in the vertical direction and 37.5 μm in the horizontal direction. Compared with the same manipulation executed using only the SLM, the range of this method is extended four-fold in the vertical direction and three-fold in the horizontal direction.     

一种用于高斯光束整形的衍折射光学元件的研究

由衍射光学元件（ＤＯＥ）和折射透镜组成的衍折射光学元件，用于较大功率密度和光束半径的高斯光束的聚焦。运用ＧＳ算法，用外围的ＤＯＥ产生一个偏移的高斯光束分布，与中心的折射透镜会聚后的高斯光束相干叠加在一个很小的聚焦圆内，在聚焦圆内的光强分布不平整度小于５％。给出了一个圆域基模高斯光束的整形分布，计算误差小于３．５％。     

Laser spot location method for a laser pointer interaction application using a diffractive optical element

A diffractive optical element (DOE) is applied to effectively locate a laser pointer spot on a projection screen for laser pointer interaction applications. The DOE is placed in front of a digital web camera to blur the background image while transforming the laser spot into a large diffractive pattern, such as a circle. To calculate the diffractive pattern position on the screen, only a simple subtraction method using two successive digital images with the laser ON and OFF, respectively, is needed. This approach also improves the compressed digital image transmission latency.