Abstract: The present invention relates to a free-standing single crystalline diamond part and a single crystalline diamond part production method. The method includes the steps of: —providing a single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; —providing a first adhesion layer on the substrate or layer; —providing a second adhesion layer on the first adhesion layer: —providing a mask layer on the second adhesion layer; —forming at least one indentation or a plurality of indentations through the mask layer and the first and second adhesion layers to expose a portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; and—etching the exposed portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer and etching entirely through the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer.

Abstract: Polishing method comprising the steps of: —providing at least one crystalline layer or substrate, the at least one crystalline layer or substrate extending in at least one plane, and including at least one outer surface and at least one depression extending from the at least one outer surface; and —polishing the at least one outer surface using ion beam etching (IBE) or an accelerated inert gas ion beam, the ion beam being incident on the at least one outer surface at non-normal incidence or at a non-zero angle (?) with respect to the surface normal of the at least one plane of the crystalline layer or substrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a single crystalline diamond optical element production method. The method includes the steps of: —providing a single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; —applying a mask layer to the single crystalline diamond substrate or C layer; —forming at least one or a plurality of indentations or recesses through the mask layer to expose a portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer, and —etching the exposed portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a free-standing single crystalline diamond part and a single crystalline diamond part production method. The method includes the steps of: providing a single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; providing a first adhesion layer on the substrate or layer; providing a second adhesion layer on the first adhesion layer: providing a mask layer on the second adhesion layer; forming at least one indentation or a plurality of indentations through the mask layer and the first and second adhesion layers to expose a portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; and etching the exposed portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer and etching entirely through the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer.

Abstract: An optical switching system comprising a switching cell having first and second fixed-position bus waveguides and a moveable shunt waveguide is disclosed. The first bus waveguide includes an input and a first output. The second bus waveguide includes a second output. When the switching cell is in its unswitched state, the shunt waveguide is not optically coupled with either bus waveguide and a light signal can pass from the input to the first output while remaining in the first bus waveguide. When the switching cell is in its switched state, the shunt waveguide is optically coupled with both bus waveguides such that the light signal is coupled out of the first bus waveguide and into the second bus waveguide via the shunt waveguide. As a result, the light signal can pass from the input to the second output while bypassing the first input.

Abstract: An optical switching system comprising a switching cell having first and second fixed-position bus waveguides and a moveable shunt waveguide is disclosed. The first bus waveguide includes an input and a first output. The second bus waveguide includes a second output. When the switching cell is in its unswitched state, the shunt waveguide is not optically coupled with either bus waveguide and a light signal can pass from the input to the first output while remaining in the first bus waveguide. When the switching cell is in its switched state, the shunt waveguide is optically coupled with both bus waveguides such that the light signal is coupled out of the first bus waveguide and into the second bus waveguide via the shunt waveguide. As a result, the light signal can pass from the input to the second output while bypassing the first input.