Abstract

Almost achromatic off-axis deterministic diffusers are flexible micro-optical elements that can produce arbitrary light distributions. They can, for example, increase the efficiency of projection systems when used as screens. These elements still pose a challenge in both design and manufacturing due to the often occurring necessity of a tessellated surface. We estimate the element depth necessary to achieve achromatic behavior using a blazed grating as a substitute model. We then show the design of a tessellated, deep diffuser using an algorithm published by Brenner [Opt. Lett. 25, 31 (2000) [CrossRef]  ]. To further enhance the diffraction efficiency under manufacturing constraints, we introduce a modification that preserves the tessellation edges during design. We show that the modified algorithm yields an increase in efficiency and demonstrate the quasi-achromatic behavior of the resulting height profile.

© 2022 Optica Publishing Group

Iterative algorithm for the design of free-space diffractive optical elements for fiber coupling

Martin J. Thomson, Jinsong Liu, and Mohammad R. Taghizadeh
Appl. Opt. 43(10) 1996-1999 (2004)

Photofabrication of random achromatic optical diffusers for uniform illumination

Eugenio R. Méndez, E. Efrén García-Guerrero, Héctor M. Escamilla, Alexei A. Maradudin, Tamara A. Leskova, and Andrei V. Shchegrov
Appl. Opt. 40(7) 1098-1108 (2001)

Fast method for designing broadband achromatic diffractive optical elements

Haiquan Hu, Hao Xu, Yueting Chen, Zhihai Xu, Qi Li, Huajun Feng, and Tingting Jiang
Opt. Express 30(19) 33926-33939 (2022)

Deterministic Diffusers for Holography

W. J. Dallas
Appl. Opt. 12(6) 1179-1187 (1973)

Iterative Fourier transform algorithm with regularization for the optimal design of diffractive optical elements

Hwi Kim, Byungchoon Yang, and Byoungho Lee
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 21(12) 2353-2365 (2004)