A diffractive optical element (DOE) uses thin micro‐structure patterns to alter the phase of the light that is propagated through it. Those micro‐structures, once properly designed, can manipulate the light to almost any desired intensity profile or shape. This technology enables many functions and light manipulations which are not feasible with standard refractive optics.
The depth of focus of the Gaussian beam is extended by introducing a wavefront phase correction with properly designed diffractive optical elements. Results of the computer simulations show that, compared with other methods, the presented method demonstrates a reduced focal spot size and low sidelobes in a focal domain, within a considerable range of defocusing distances. Experimental results for the visible range diffractive optical element with a focus of 40 mm and a depth of focus that extends to 1 mm agree with the theory.
A diffractive optical element (DOE) uses thin micro‐structure patterns to alter the phase of the light that is propagated through it. Those micro‐structures, once properly designed, can manipulate the light to almost any desired intensity profile or shape. This technology enables many functions and light manipulations which are not feasible with standard refractive optics.
In many applications, these functions are highly beneficial and improve system performance significantly. Diffractive optical solutions have many advantages such as: high efficiency, high precision, small dimensions, low weight, and, most importantly, are flexible solutions that meet a variety of different applications' requirements.
The set of diffractive optical elements for CO2 and Nd-Yag lasers was theoretically calculated, fabricated by microlithographic technology and experimentally tested. It is shown that the laser systems for therapy, surgery and welding gain from advanced capabilities of the DOEs: uniform focal-spot intensity, simultaneous formation of focal line contours, sharp and multiple-spot focusing, dual-wavelength achromatization, miniaturization. Novel multifocal diffractive contact lenses are elaborated based on diffractive microrelief considerations, nonparaxial variant of diffraction integral on curved surface and computer simulations of intensity distribution on eye retina. Tn-focal diffractive contact lenses that were diamond-turned on rigid and soft materials successfully passed tests.
Increasing possibilities of precision diamond turning and lithography bring to reality diffractive micro-relief on spherical, aspherical and other curvilinear surfaces. Contact lenses, plastic aspherical, and collimator lenses, aberration correction plates on ZnSe and other materials give the practical examples. Creation of means for design and computer modeling of curvilinear-substrate DOEs are felt essential.
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