Diffractive Optical Elements have a microstructure surface that diffracts lights into a tailored pattern with minimal loss. The redistribution of light with lesser waste is the reason why Diffractive Optical Elements are getting popularized day by day. They are made of subwavelength structures of complex arrangements.
Here’s everything you need to know about them:
What Is It Used For?
Diffractive optical elements are actually beam splitters and generators. So it is basically used for beam shapers, beam splitters, line generators, and diffusers. These elements are used in machine vision systems, 3D sensors, bar code scanners, and measurement solutions, etc. It enhances the laser value. And, optical applications like LiDAR and LADAR have significant use of Diffractive Optical Value. Also, Diffractive Optical Elements can be generated with a projected dot pattern of infrared light.
It’s Specifications:
Master material- The primary element for this diffractive optics is Silicon, fused silica, and nickel.
Dimension- Depending on the material, the number of levels and aspect ratio, the dimension can be down to 50 nm.
Aspect ratio- 1:3 to 1:10, depends on the material.
Level accuracy: More than 6%
Lateral tolerance: Better than 15 nm
Benefits:
Most benefits with minimum input are something that makes a product popular on the market.
- The laser beams are shaped in a way to control the intensity. That is how diffractive optics is energy efficient, making the lowest possible loss of energy or light.
- It is extremely flexible.
- Diffractive optical specific are customer-friendly as well.
- Finally, it is so versatile that refractive optics can be combined with it. And it has such a diffraction structure that it goes absolutely fine with the modern production method.
Fields of Application:
- Diffractive Optical Elements are used in shaping and splitting of laser beams while cutting, scoring and welding.
- It is used in medical fields for diagonal instruments and also for laser treatment.
- It is used in lithography and holographic lighting.
- It has uses in optical sensors and LiDAR and LADAR applications.
- It is also used in communication matters like silicon applications and wavelength selection.
Over the years, diffractive optics has evolved to suit a number of growing applications. They are capable of performing several optical functions in a single element. Their advancement has made them an important component in laser material processing, different types of lasers, and light projection systems.
