Abstract: A light irradiation device for irradiating polarized light having a light source, a device-side polarizer for polarizing light of the light source and a measuring device that measures a polarization axis of the light polarized by the device-side polarizer is provided, an extinction ratio of the device-side polarizer being set to 100:1 or more.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method that includes forming a first layer comprising a first material over a surface of a second layer, wherein forming the first layer includes sequentially forming a plurality of monolayers of the second material over the surface of the second layer, the second layer comprises a plurality of rows of a second material extending along a first direction and spaced from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the first layer conforms to the surface of the second layer.

Abstract: A plasmonic device has a plurality of nanostructures extending from a substrate. Each of the plurality of nanostructures preferably includes a core, a coating of intermediate material covering at least a portion of the core, and a coating of a plasmonic material. Devices are preferably manufactured using lithography to create the cores, and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) to deposit the intermediate and/or plasmonic materials. Cores can be arranged in any suitable pattern, including one-dimensional or two-dimensional patterns. Devices can be used in airborne analyte detectors, in handheld roadside controlled substance detectors, in genome sequencing device, and in refraction detectors.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention features articles that have a first layer including a plurality of rows of a first material extending along a first direction, the rows being spaced apart from each other and a center of each adjacent row being separated by a distance less than a wavelength ?, and a second layer supported by the first layer, the second layer including a second material. The first layer is configured to transmit about 50% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the first layer along a path and to specularly reflect about 80% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the first layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. The second layer is configured so that the article specularly reflects about 10% or less of the radiation of wavelength ? having the second polarization incident on the article along the path, where the path intersects the first and second layers.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method that includes forming a first layer comprising a first material over a surface of a second layer, wherein forming the first layer includes sequentially forming a plurality of monolayers of the second material over the surface of the second layer, the second layer comprises a plurality of rows of a second material extending along a first direction and spaced from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the first layer conforms to the surface of the second layer.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an article that includes a layer including a plurality of spaced-apart portions of a first material extending along a first direction. The layer transmits about 20% or more of light of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the layer along a path. The layer transmits about 2% or less of light of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. For wavelength ?, the first material has a refractive index of 1.8 or more and an extinction coefficient of 1.8 or more, and ? is 300 nm or less.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention features articles that include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface contiguous with the first surface. The first and second surfaces are non-coplanar. A first multilayer film is disposed on the first surface. A second multilayer film is disposed on the second surface. The second multilayer film is contiguous with the first multilayer film.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for reflecting a select polarization of at least one transmission having a given wavelength impinging upon the device. The device includes a substrate and a layer of nanostructures. The nanostructures form a resonant pattern on the substrate adapted to define a plurality of high contrast refractive index interfaces suitable for reflecting the select polarization of the at least one transmission.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure features an article that includes a first layer having spaced-apart rows of a first material, and a second layer supported by the first layer, the second layer having spaced-apart rows of a second material. The rows of the first layer extend along a first direction and the rows of the second layer extend along a second direction non-parallel with the first direction and each layer is independently birefringent for light of a wavelength ? propagating along an axis that intersects the first and second layers, where ? is in a range from about 150 nm to about 5,000 nm.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosure features an article that includes a first layer having spaced-apart rows of a first material, and a multilayer film adjacent the first layer. The first layer and the multilayer film are each independently birefringent for light of a wavelength ? propagating along an axis that intersects the first layer and the multilayer film, and ? is in a range from about 150 nm to about 5,000 nm.

Abstract: A radiation polarizer, controller, and a method of radiation polarization and beam control, are disclosed. The radiation polarizer includes a substrate, at least one anti-reflection coating layer communicatively coupled to the substrate, at least two nanostructures communicatively coupled to the at least one anti-reflection coating layer, and at least two groove layers, wherein each one of the at least two groove layers is interstitial to a respective one of the at least two nanostructures.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to articles that include a plurality of walls configured to form a grating. Each of the plurality of walls can include a layer of a first material and a layer of a second material different from the first material. The articles can retard incident radiation at wavelengths ?1 and ?2 by amounts ?1 and ?2, respectively, where |?1??2| is about 15 nm or more and ?1 is substantially equal to ?2.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for wavelength division multiplexing and demultiplexing with broadened and flattened passband profiles are disclosed. A spectral modifying element may be used to broaden and flatten the passband profile of associated multiple wavelength optical signals and spectral components. The system preferably includes a light focusing device and a diffraction grating having a direction of dispersion. The spectral modify element primarily transforms or broadens and flattens optical signals in only the direction of dispersion of the associated diffraction grating.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention features articles that have a first layer including a plurality of rows of a first material extending along a first direction, the rows being spaced apart from each other and a center of each adjacent row being separated by a distance less than a wavelength ?, and a second layer supported by the first layer, the second layer including a second material. The first layer is configured to transmit about 50% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the first layer along a path and to specularly reflect about 80% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the first layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. The second layer is configured so that the article specularly reflects about 10% or less of the radiation of wavelength ? having the second polarization incident on the article along the path, where the path intersects the first and second layers.