Published by De Gruyter

Volume 10 Issue 1 - Diffractive Optics / Guest Editor: Reinhard Voelkel

Issue of Advanced Optical Technologies

Contents
Journal Overview

Publicly Available March 12, 2021

Editorial

Publicly Available March 12, 2021

From the publisher Reviewer recognition and publisher’s note 2021

Andreas Thoss

Page range: 1-3

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Community

Publicly Available February 17, 2021

News

Andreas Thoss

Page range: 5-10

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Views

January 25, 2021

High quality diffractive optical elements (DOEs) using SMILE imprint technique

Simon Drieschner, Fabian Kloiber, Marc Hennemeyer, Jan J. Klein, Manuel W. Thesen

Page range: 11-16

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) enhancing the existing natural environment by overlaying a virtual world is an emerging and growing market and attracts huge commercial interest into optical devices which can be implemented into head-mounted AR equipment. Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are considered as the most promising candidate to meet the market’s requirements such as compactness, low-cost, and reliability. Hence, they allow building alternatives to large display headsets for virtual reality (VR) by lightweight glasses. Soft lithography replication offers a pathway to the fabrication of large area DOEs with high aspect ratios, multilevel features, and critical dimensions below the diffractive optical limit down to 50 nm also in the scope of mass manufacturing. In combination with tailored UV-curable photopolymers, the fabrication time can be drastically reduced making it very appealing to industrial applications. Here, we illustrate the key features of high efficiency DOEs and how the SMILE (SUSS MicroTec Imprint Lithography Equipment) technique can be used with advanced imprint photopolymers to obtain high quality binary DOEs meeting the market’s requirements providing a very versatile tool to imprint both nano- and microstructures.

Topical Issue: Diffractive Optics; Guest Editor: Reinhard Voelkel

Editorial

Publicly Available March 12, 2021

Diffractive optics

Reinhard Voelkel

Page range: 17-18

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Review article

Open Access December 3, 2020

Diamond diffractive optics—recent progress and perspectives

Marcell Kiss, Sichen Mi, Gergely Huszka, Niels Quack

Page range: 19-30

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Abstract

Diamond is an exceptional material that has recently seen a remarkable increase in interest in academic research and engineering since high-quality substrates became commercially available and affordable. Exploiting the high refractive index, hardness, laser-induced damage threshold, thermal conductivity and chemical resistance, an abundance of applications incorporating ever higher-performance diamond devices has seen steady growth. Among these, diffractive optical elements stand out—with progress in fabrication technologies, micro- and nanofabrication techniques have enabled the creation of gratings and diffractive optical elements with outstanding properties. Research activities in this field have further been spurred by the unique property of diamond to be able to host optically active atom scale defects in the crystal lattice. Such color centers allow generation and manipulation of individual photons, which has contributed to accelerated developments in engineering of novel quantum applications in diamond, with diffractive optical elements amidst critical components for larger-scale systems. This review collects recent examples of diffractive optical devices in diamond, and highlights the advances in manufacturing of such devices using micro- and nanofabrication techniques, in contrast to more traditional methods, and avenues to explore diamond diffractive optical elements for emerging and future applications are put in perspective.

Research articles

November 2, 2020

Narrowband transmission filters based on resonant waveguide gratings and conformal dielectric-plasmonic coatings

Benjamin Gallinet, Giorgio Quaranta, Christian Schneider

Page range: 31-38

Abstract

Nanostructured filter arrays on image sensors are promising for miniature spectrometers and spectral imagers. In this work, we report on resonant waveguide gratings fabricated by UV nanoimprint lithography and conformal dielectric-plasmonic coatings. Optical measurements in accordance with numerical simulations report on a resonance bandwidth of 20 nm in transmission in the visible range. The impact of cladding thickness and filter lateral size on the resonance properties is investigated with the help of numerical calculations. Finally, it is shown that the proposed geometry based on conformal coatings has a very efficient blocking rate compared to other nanostructured filter approaches.

Open Access October 7, 2020

Inverse design of diffractive optical elements using step-transition perturbation approach

Dong Cheon Kim, Andreas Hermerschmidt, Pavel Dyachenko, Toralf Scharf

Page range: 39-47

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Abstract

Diffractive optical elements are ultra-thin optical components required for a variety of applications because of their high design flexibility. We introduce a gradient-based optimization method based on a step-transition perturbation approach which is an efficient approximation method using local field perturbations due to sharp surface profile transitions. Step-transition perturbation approach be available to calculate the gradient of figure of merit straightforwardly, we implemented optimization method based on this gradient. This fast and accurate inverse design creates binary (2-level) diffractive elements with small features generating the wide angle beam arrays. The results of the experimental characterization confirm that the optimization based on the perturbation method is valid for 1-to-117 fan-out grating generating beam pattern of linear array.

Open Access December 3, 2020

Diffractive optics based automotive lighting system

A rear end lamp design for communication between road users

Muhammad Shaukat Khan, Woheeb Muhammad Saeed, Bernhard Roth, Roland Lachmayer

Page range: 49-57

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Abstract

Information projection using laser-based illumination systems in the automotive area is of keen interest to enhance communication between road users. Numerous work on laser-based front end projection employing refractive and reflective optics has been reported so far, while for rear end illumination efforts are more scarce and a different optical design concept due to limited volumetric size and field of view regulations is required. Here, we report on a new and versatile approach for a laser-based rear end lighting system for automotive application which enables projection of information or signals to support other road users. The design is based on thin diffractive optical elements projecting the desired patterns upon illumination. Also, for protection of the road users from the steering laser beam, a diffusive back projection screen is designed to project information while fulfilling both the field of view and safety requirements. The projection system is based on a periodic diffusive structure made of an array of biconic lenses with sizes in the millimeter range. The field of view (FOV) from the simulated lens arrays complies with the angular requirements set by the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). As a proof of concept, the diffusive screen is fabricated using microfabrication technology and characterized. In future, the screen will be combined with thin diffractive optical elements to realize an entire integrated projection system.

March 5, 2021

Multifunctional materials for lean processing of waferscale optics

Ruth Houbertz, Verena Hartinger, Jan J. Klein, Martin Herder, Gabi Grützner, Peter Dannberg

Page range: 59-70

Abstract

The continuous miniaturization of components and devices along with the increasing need of sustainability in production requires materials which can fulfill the manifold requests concerning their functionality. From an industrial point of view emphasis is on cost reduction either for the materials, the processes, or for both, along with a facilitation of processing and a general reduction of resource consumption in manufacturing. Multifunctional nanoscale materials have been widely investigated due to their tunable material properties and their ability to fulfill the increasingly growing demands in miniaturization, ease of processes, low-cost manufacturing, scalability, reliability, and finally sustainability. A material class which fulfills these requirements and is suited for integrated or waferscale optics are inorganic–organic hybrid polymers such as ORMOCER ® s [ORMOCER ® is registered by the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft für Angewandte Forschung e.V. and commercialized by microresist technology GmbH under license since 2003]. The combination of chemically designed multifunctional low-cost materials with tunable optical properties is very attractive for (integrated) optical and waferscale applications via a variety of different nano- and microstructuring techniques to fabricate micro- and nano-optical components, typically within less than a handful of process steps. The influence of photoinitiator and cross-linking conditions onto the optical properties of an acrylate-based inorganic–organic hybrid polymer will be discussed, and its suitability for being applied in waferscale optics is demonstrated and discussed for miniaturized multi- and single channel imaging optics.

Research article

January 5, 2021

Stray light analysis and design optimization of geometrical waveguide

Yao Zhou, Jufan Zhang, Fengzhou Fang

Page range: 71-79

Abstract

Waveguide technology has great prospects of development in optical see-through near-eye displays with larger field of view, lower thickness and lighter weight than other conventional optical technologies. However, the stray light is usually inevitable in current optical design and manufacturing, causing a poor imaging quality. In this paper, the principle and structures of stray light generation are analyzed, and the causes are discussed by non-sequential ray-tracing with mass precision calculation. From the ray-tracing, the suppression of stray light by optimizing design and manufacturing are achieved. A 2 mm-thickness geometrical waveguide with partially reflective mirror array is designed. The field of view of the optimized geometrical waveguide reaches 47° with 10 mm at exit pupil diameter and 20 mm at eye relief.

About this journal

Objective

Advanced Optical Technologies is a strictly peer-reviewed scientific journal. The major aim of Advanced Optical Technologies is to publish recent progress in the fields of optical design, optical engineering, and optical manufacturing. Advanced Optical Technologies has a main focus on applied research and addresses scientists as well as experts in industrial research and development.

Advanced Optical Technologies partners with the European Optical Society (EOS). All its 4.500+ members have free online access to the journal through their EOS member account.

Topics

Optical design
Lithography
Opto-mechanical engineering
Illumination and lighting technology
Precision fabrication
Image sensor devices
Optical materials (polymer based, inorganic, crystalline/amorphous)
Optical instruments in life science (biology, medicine, laboratories)
Optical metrology
Optics in aerospace/defense
Simulation, interdisciplinary
Optics for astronomy
Standards
Consumer optics
Optical coatings

Article formats
Tutorial, Review Article, Research Article, Letter, Short Communication, Views

> Information on submission process

Volume 10 Issue 1 - Diffractive Optics / Guest Editor: Reinhard Voelkel

Issue of Advanced Optical Technologies

Frontmatter

From the publisher Reviewer recognition and publisher’s note 2021

News

High quality diffractive optical elements (DOEs) using SMILE imprint technique

Abstract

Diffractive optics

Diamond diffractive optics—recent progress and perspectives

Abstract

Narrowband transmission filters based on resonant waveguide gratings and conformal dielectric-plasmonic coatings

Abstract

Inverse design of diffractive optical elements using step-transition perturbation approach

Abstract

Diffractive optics based automotive lighting system

A rear end lamp design for communication between road users

Abstract

Multifunctional materials for lean processing of waferscale optics

Abstract

Stray light analysis and design optimization of geometrical waveguide

Abstract