Highlighted are presentations, postings and press releases of new macro, micro and nano fabrication, materials and tooling methods for fabricating diffractive and holographic optics as well as other hybrid or traditional micro optical devices



Diamond micro-milling for array mastering (Invited Paper) 

Paper 7062-19  
Author(s): Niels Christian R. Holme, Tommy W. Berg, Palle G. Dinesen, Kaleido Technology ApS (Denmark)

Abstract

We will present recent advances in Kaleido Technology on the ultra-precision diamond-milling process. This is an extremely versatile tool for manufacturing of masters for wafer-based replication technologies. Diamond-milling has the advantage of being able to manufacture lenses with much larger radii of curvatures compared to etching methods. Spheres, aspheres and free-form surfaces have been machined with form accuracies better than 200 nm (PV), and arrays on wafers up to 200 mm have been manufactured with lens-position accuracies better than 3 µm absolute over the entire wafer.  

   
       
UV beam shaper alignment sensitivity: grayscale versus binary designs 

Paper 7062-20  
Author(s): Todd E. Lizotte, Hitachi Via Mechanics USA, Inc.

Abstract

This paper provides some insight into how grayscale and binary fabrication methods can produce the same style of beam shaper, with similar beam shaping performance; however provide a result wherein each fabricated design has separate degrees of sensitivity for alignment and stability. An understanding of this phenomenon is essential when considering the use of beam shapers on production equipment that is dedicated to producing micron-precision features within high value microelectronic and consumer products. We will present our findings and explore potential explanations and solutions.       

       
Diffractive, aspheric, or spherical beam transformers: a comparison in manufacturability 

Paper 7062-21  
Author(s): John G. Smith, MEMS Optical, Inc.

 Abstract

Diffractive and higher-order refractive aspheres are typical elements for shaping an input Gaussian to a top-hat profile. Spherical elements and a combination of spherical and aspherical elements will be evaluated and compared with diffractive and all aspherical designs in terms of manufacturability.  

       
Microlens diffusers: design and fabrication 

Paper 7062-22  
Author(s): Tasso R. Sales, RPC Photonics, Inc.

Abstract

Microlens diffusers represent a new class of diffusing components capable of homogenization of otherwise uneven illumination and efficient beam shaping. The refractive nature of microlens diffusers results in achromatic behavior and applicability to a variety of sources, such as lasers and solid-state lighting. In this presentation we discuss the general principles involved in the design of microlens diffusers and describe its characteristic properties relevant to various applications such as the generation of controlled intensity profiles and arbitrary energy distribution. We also discuss the fabrication issues related to the production of the arbitrary surfaces required by microlens diffusers and present the current state-of-the-art in the manufacturing of these elements.   

    
       
Thin copper film for plasma etching of quartz 

Paper 7062-23  
Author(s): Stanislav Dmitriev, Aleksey Volkov, Vadim Eropolov, Oleg Moiseev, Boris Volodkin, Image Processing Systems Institute (Russia

 No abstract available

       
       
Optimization of technology for antireflection structure formation on the end face of silver-halide PIR-fiber 

Paper 7062-24  
Author(s): Vadim A. Eropolov, Vladimir S. Pavelyev, Oleg Y. Moiseev, Alexey V. Volkov, Stanislav V. Dmitriev, Image Processing Systems Institute (Russia); Viatcheslav Artyushenko, Vitaliy Kashin, General Physics Institute (Russia)

No abstract available

Continuous phase plate polishing using magnetorheological finishing 

Paper 7062-31  
Author(s): Marc Tricard, Paul Dumas, QED Technologies Inc.; Joseph A. Menapace, Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

Abstract

Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF®) techniques and tools have been developed to imprint complex, continuously varying topographical structures onto 430 x 430 millimeter optical surfaces. These optics, known as continuous phase plates (CPPs) are important for kilojoule- and megajoule-class laser systems requiring precise control of beam-shape, energy distribution and wavefront profile. MRF’s sub-aperture polishing characteristics make it possible to imprint complex computer generated topographical information at spatial scale-lengths approaching 1 millimeter and surface peak-to-valleys as high as 22 millimeters to within 30 nanometers of design specifications. This paper presents the evolution of MRF imprinting technology for manufacturing large-aperture CPPs.