Abstract: A reflection metal diffraction grating has a high diffraction efficiency for diffracting femtosecond mode laser pulses, and includes a substrate with a set of lines having a pitch ?. The substrate is made of metal or covered with a metal layer, and the grating includes a thin film of dielectric material having a thickness, the dielectric film covering the metal surface of the lines of the grating, the grating being suitable for receiving a pulsed electromagnetic lightwave in a femtosecond mode. The thickness of the dielectric thin film is lower than 50 nm, and is suitable for reducing by a third order factor at least the maximum of the square of the electric field of the electromagnetic lightwave on the metal surface and in the metal layer of the substrate as compared to the square of the electric field at the surface of a metal grating not having a dielectric thin film.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to planar sub-wavelength dielectric gratings that can be configured to control the beam profile of reflected and transmitted light. In one embodiment, a grating (200) includes a planar structure having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. The grating includes a non-periodic grating (201-203,210,212,216,218) formed within the first surface. For light incident on the first surface, a first portion of the light is reflected with a first wavefront shape and a first irradiance profile and a second portion of the light is transmitted with a second wavefront shape and a second irradiance profile.

Abstract: Provided is a light-guiding substrate that can propagate light, which has been emitted by means of a light emitting device, in a confined state with an efficiency as high as possible. An optical system provided with the light-guiding substrate is also provided.

Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.

Abstract: A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system is described comprising controlling an optical power within the ultra-short pulse system and control-system controlling a width of an optical pulse. In some embodiments, the method also comprises tuning a compressor by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a Bragg grating to control the width of the optical pulse output from the compressor. In other embodiments, the method may comprise tuning a multi-pass stretcher by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a loop of the multi-pass stretcher to control the width of the optical pulse output from the multi-pass stretcher. A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system may also comprise accessing a control system from a remotely located command station, communicating status information from the control system to the command station, and communicating information from the command station to the control system.

Abstract: A pattern projector, comprising a light source, configured to emit a beam of light. A transparent substrate, which has a pair of mutually-opposed planar surfaces is configured to receive and propagate the beam within the substrate by total internal reflection between the planar surfaces. The transparent substrate comprises a diffractive structure that is formed on one of the planar surfaces and is configured to direct at least a part of the beam to propagate out of the substrate in a direction that is angled away from the surface and to create a pattern comprising multiple interleaved light and dark areas.

Abstract: A reflection grating device with a continuous non-reflecting dielectric adjusting layer disposed between a grating structure and one or more continuous reflecting layers is disclosed that operates in an order of interest, such as the 1st order or 3rd order of diffraction, with high efficiency and near-exclusion of unwanted orders. Such devices can be employed, for example, in telecommunication and laser applications.

Abstract: An optical assembly has at least one mirror with a mirror body. The latter is carried by a support body, which has a first support body portion and a second support body portion. An at least thermally separating region is arranged between the two support body portions. At least one surface portion of at least one of the support body portions or of a body thermally coupled thereto is modified in such a way that a thermal emission coefficient ?m of the modified surface portion differs from a thermal emission coefficient ?u of the unmodified surface portion by at least 10%. The result is an optical assembly, in which an improved thermal stability is achieved by the predetermining of the thermal emission coefficients.

Abstract: A tunable filter is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source (2) for light circuits on a silicon platform (3). A vertical laser cavity is formed by a gain region (101) arranged between a top mirror (4) and a bottom grating-mirror (12) in a grating region (11) in a silicon layer (10) on a substrate. A waveguide (18, 19) for receiving light from the grating region (11) is formed within or to be connected to the grating region, and functions as an 5 output coupler for the VCL. Thereby, vertical lasing modes (16) are coupled to lateral in-plane modes (17, 20) of the in-plane waveguide formed in the silicon layer, and light can be provided to e.g. photonic circuits on a SOI or CMOS substrate in the silicon.

Abstract: In a projection exposure method for the exposure of a radiation-sensitive substrate arranged in the region of an image surface of a projection objective with at least one image of a pattern of a mask arranged in the region of an object surface of the projection objective, laser radiation having a spectral intensity distribution I(?) dependent on the angular frequency ? is used. The laser radiation is characterized by an aberration parameter ? in accordance with: ? := ? I ? ( ? ) ? ? 2 ? ? ? ? I ? ( ? ) ? ? ? and a coherence time ? in accordance with: ? = ? I ? ( ? ) 2 ? ? ? [ ? I ? ( ? ) ? ? ? ] 2 The laser radiation is introduced into an illumination system for generating an illumination radiation directed onto the mask, and the pattern is imaged onto the substrate with the aid of a projection objective. The spectral intensity distribution is set so that ??2?0.3.

Abstract: A grating pulse compressor configuration is introduced for increasing the optical dispersion for a given footprint and to make practical the application for chirped pulse amplification (CPA) to quasi-narrow bandwidth materials, such as Nd:YAG. The grating configurations often use cascaded pairs of gratings to increase angular dispersion an order of magnitude or more. Increased angular dispersion allows for decreased grating separation and a smaller compressor footprint.

Abstract: A special visual effect is achieved. An optical device includes a light-reflecting interface provided with a first relief structure including first recesses or protrusions arranged two-dimensionally, the first relief structure emitting a first diffracted light when illuminated with a light, and a light-transmitting interface disposed in front of the light-reflecting interface and having a reflectance smaller than that of the first interface, the light-transmitting interface being provided with a second relief structure including second recesses or protrusions arranged two-dimensionally, and the second relief structure emitting a second diffracted light when illuminated with the light.

Abstract: An optical element having a set of a plurality of three dimensional cells. Each cell with a specific amplitude and a specific phase are defined and which has optical characteristics such that when a predetermined incident light is provided to the individual cell, an emitted light, resulting from changing the amplitude and the phase of the incident light in accordance with the specific amplitude and the specific phase defined for the cell is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a semiconductor laser having a narrow linewidth and low power consumption for optical communication applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, a semiconductor laser is provided which includes a grating layer comprising a plurality of segmented gratings, each including a non-grating portion and a grating portion. The segmented gratings are configured to enhance a fundamental mode of the semiconductor laser while sufficiently suppressing modes other than the fundamental mode, providing a narrow linewidth for example. The segmented gratings are also configured to provide an effective length longer than an actual length of the semiconductor laser, leading to smaller device areas and corresponding lower power consumption. A photonic integrated circuit is also provided which includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers, consistent with the present invention, as well as additional optical elements, all provided on a single substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data support (1) with a core layer (15) and at least one adjacent layer (14a), laminated to the core layer and a corresponding production method, said core layer being embodied from a holographic data store in the form of a volume hologram (5). The surface (141) facing the core layer, on the layer directly adjacent to the core layer, has a roughness (19), before lamination to the core layer, which affects the wavelength shift of the image reconstructed by the volume hologram.

Abstract: The invention comprises a polymeric microarray support (1) for an optical assay arrangement (2) comprising optical means (3, 4, 6) for detection of light emitted from the support. The microarray support is provided with microfeatures comprising a surface enlarging pattern (5), i.e. grooves having a selected depth (8). The depth is selected such that the sum of the depth and of the variations in the thickness (7) of the support substantially corresponds to the depth of focus of the optical means.

Abstract: A system and method for uniform light generation in projection display systems. An illumination source comprises a light source to produce colored light, and a scrolling optics unit optically coupled to the light source, the scrolling optics unit configured to create lines of colored light from the colored light, and to scroll the lines of colored light along a direction orthogonal to a light path of the illumination source. The scrolling optics unit comprises a single light shaping diffuser to transform the colored light into the lines of colored light, an optical filter positioned in the light path after the light shaping diffuser, and a scrolling optics element positioned in the light path after the optical filter. The single light shaping diffuser is capable of simultaneously transforming colored light into lines of colored light having substantially uniform intensity to provide uniform illumination.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical security element and a process for the production of an optical security element in the form of a multilayer body having a projection element (8) in a first region of the security element for converting light transmitted through the optical security element in the first region by means of diffraction. The projection element (8) has a plurality of first zones (85) in which a first surface of a replication layer (82) has a first surface structure and an opaque metallic layer (85) is arranged on the first surface of the replication layer (82). It further has a plurality of transparent second zones (86) in which the first surface of the replication layer has a second surface structure (87) with an aspect ratio differing from the aspect ratio of the first surface structure and no opaque metallic layer is provided.

Abstract: In an aspect, described herein is a dynamically controllable optoelectronic smart window which utilizes a diffraction grating for selective transmission or rejection of a specific region of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example the infrared, near-infrared and/or visible regions. Window embodiments described herein may further utilize a selectively controlled and/or patterned total internal reflection layer to assist with the selective rejection of a specific spectral region while allowing for transmission of another specific spectral region. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for dynamically controlling the transmission or rejection of solar near-infrared and/or visible radiation.

Abstract: A laser light source device may include a laser diode, first and second optical elements, a diffraction grating, and a detector. The first optical element may collimate laser light emitted from the laser diode. The diffraction grating may reflect zero-order light in the collimated laser light in a predetermined direction other than a direction toward the laser diode and may reflect first-order light in the collimated laser light toward the laser diode. The second optical element may reflect the zero-order light reflected by the diffraction grating in a predetermined direction while transmitting a part of the zero-order light reflected by the diffraction grating. The detector may detect at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the light that passes through the second optical element.

Abstract: A dispersion element includes a prism having a first transmission surface and an oppositely disposed second transmission surface, and an optical element having a third transmission surface and an oppositely disposed diffraction optical surface on which a diffraction grating is arranged. The prism and the optical element are integrated into one body by cementing the first transmission surface to the third transmission surface. The third transmission surface and the diffraction optical surface are non-parallel to each other in a plane perpendicular to grooves of the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A concave diffraction grating device, a reflective dispersion device, and a spectral device of the invention include a diffraction grating plane having an aspherical configuration, wherein the diffraction grating plane is symmetrical in a predetermined direction, and asymmetrical in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in such a manner that the curvature of one end portion of the diffraction grating plane in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is gradually decreased, and the curvature of the other end portion thereof is gradually increased. The concave diffraction grating device, the reflective dispersion device, and the spectral device with the above arrangement have desirable slit image forming performance with respect to all the wavelengths in a visible region, and are suitable for mass-production.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes an optical modulation projector. The mobile terminal also includes a control system, a projection control unit, and an optical modulation system. The control system outputs a projection control signal and image data. The projection control unit receives the image data from the control system, and generates and outputs a drive control signal depending on the image data received. The optical modulation system generates and modulates light and generates an image in response to the drive control signal and then scans the image for projecting onto a screen.

Abstract: The diffractive optical device (1) can be used as a security device in the fields of authentication, identification and security. It comprises a zero-order diffractive color filter (3). The diffractive color filter may consist of a microstructured high-index layer (32) embedded between two low-index layers (31, 33). A mirror layer (4) for reflecting towards the diffractive color filter (3) at least part of light transmitted through the diffractive color filter (3) are provided beneath the diffractive color filter. Thanks to the mirror layer (4), the device (1) has a much higher reflected intensity and much more complex spectra than prior-art diffractive color filters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fading an image into the beam path of an aiming optics, having an at least partially transparent optical support element which is arranged in the beam path of the aiming optics and has at least one diffractive optical coupling element and at least one diffractive optical decoupling element, the at least one diffractive optical coupling element leading light of the image to be faded in, which light is incident on said coupling element and is to be coupled in, through the optical support element to the at least one diffractive optical decoupling element for the purpose of superposition with the beam path. The image to be faded in is imaged into the beam path of the aiming optics by the at least one diffractive optical coupling element and the least one diffractive optical decoupling element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispersive optical device with a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The object of the invention is to obtain a device having a high damage threshold on the whole and the making of which is facilitated and guaranteeing optimum optical properties. This object is achieved by using a device in silica comprising a three-dimensional photonic crystal and a diffraction grating. This device may notably be used in a compressor system for a short pulse.

Abstract: An optical irradiation device for the polarization of alkali metal atoms for the hyperpolarization of noble gases by spin exchange includes at least one semiconductor laser device which can generate laser light which, with regard to its wavelength, is suitable for the polarization of the alkali metal atoms. A polarizer effects circular polarization of the laser light generated by the semiconductor laser device. A device for introducing the laser light into a working region in which the alkali metal atoms to be polarized can be present, and a device for defining a wavelength of the laser light, which can couple part of the laser light back into the semiconductor laser device in order thereby to define the wavelength of the laser light at a predetermined wavelength or a predetermined wavelength range.

Abstract: A special visual effect is achieved. An optical device includes a light-reflecting interface provided with a first relief structure including first recesses or protrusions arranged two-dimensionally, the first relief structure emitting a first diffracted light when illuminated with a light, and a light-transmitting interface disposed in front of the light-reflecting interface and having a reflectance smaller than that of the first interface, the light-transmitting interface being provided with a second relief structure including second recesses or protrusions arranged two dimensionally, and the second relief structure emitting a second diffracted light when illuminated with the light.

Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element operable to display a plurality of distinct images when irradiated with various wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The ability to output a plurality of distinct images can permit the use of optical elements of the present invention in a variety of apparatus and imaging applications.

Abstract: An image-guiding substrate including an image output portion including a plurality of mirrors configured to receive propagated rays and launch the propagated rays toward a viewing region, each mirror having a partial reflectivity of substantially (1/Y)*[1/(X+1)], where X is the number of mirrors remaining to be traversed by a portion of a ray not launched by the mirror and 1/Y is an occlusion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Abstract: A method of reflecting impinging electromagnetic radiation by using engineered surfaces of alternating layers of materials having different indices of refraction is described. These layers can be fabrication or applied onto the surfaces of macro-scale objects. Also, a method of limiting the heating within the interior of an object being impinged upon by electromagnetic radiation is described.

Abstract: In each light modulator element of a special light modulator with diffraction grating structure where moving ribbons and fixed ribbons are alternately arranged, the maximum light-amount (I1) when an output light-amount first becomes maximum from when the moving ribbons start to sag and the maximum light amount-voltage becoming an displacement amount (P1) at the maximum light-amount, are obtained and the minimum of a plurality of maximum light-amounts is set as a target ON light-amount (It). Since a voltage (corresponding to a displacement amount (Pt1)) between the maximum light amount-voltage and the minimum light amount-voltage at a displacement amount (P2) is obtained as a target ON-voltage for the target ON light-amount (It), it is thereby possible to prevent moving distance of the moving ribbons among ON/OFF from largely differing among the light modulator elements and achieve an appropriate image recording.

Abstract: The invention provides in particular for an achromatic diffractive diffuser comprising a surface relief diffractive device arranged such that, under illumination by ambient light, the diffractive effect serves to provide a uniform achromatic diffuser reflection into a defined viewing zone for observation by an observer, and also such that the achromatic diffractive replay of the device has a non-symmetric distribution of diffractive light intensity between positive and negative diffractive order such that the diffractive efficiency in the desired diffractive order is enhanced over that of the undesired order to provide an enhanced brightness achromatic device.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer-generated hologram which can be viewed in white at the desired viewing region and a reflective liquid crystal display using the same as a reflector. The computer-generated hologram H is designed to diffuse light having a given reference wavelength ?STD and incident thereon at a given angle of incidence ? in a specific angle range. In a range of wavelengths ?min to ?max including the reference wavelength ?STD wherein zero-order transmission light or zero-order reflection light of incident light on the computer-generated hologram at a given angle of incidence is seen in white by additive color mixing, the maximum diffraction angle ?2MIN of incident light of the minimum wavelength ?MIN in the wavelength range and incident at the angle of incidence ? is larger than the minimum diffraction angle ?1MAX of incident light of the maximum wavelength ?MAX in the wavelength range and incident at said angle of incidence ?.

Abstract: A light concentration device includes: a plate including two principal faces and an edge between the two principal faces, a refractive index gradient existing between the two principal faces, and a diffraction grating functioning in reflection or semi-reflection that cooperates with one of the principal faces of the plate having the highest refractive index, the principal face having the lowest refractive index forming a front entry face for the light, at least one exit zone for the light being disposed on the edge.

Abstract: A holographic overlay is provided, including: a polycarbonate substrate having a first side and a second side, a diffractive structure cast upon the first side of the polycarbonate substrate, and a reflection-enhancing coating on at least a part of the diffractive structure; wherein the second side of the polycarbonate substrate provides a substantially flat external surface of the overlay capable of fusing to a conforming surface in the presence of heat and pressure without an adhesive. Optionally, the overlay is laser-engraved so as to form ablated voids in the metal coating and carbonize the laser engravable polycarbonate under the ablated voids. According to another aspect of the invention, a metal coating on a hologram is made substantially transparent using a laser to form a transparent portion of a hologram. Optionally, it is done after applying the hologram to an object such as a card, a document, etc., in register with underlying information to ensure its visibility and continuity of the hologram.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having a transparent region (1). At least one optical element (2, 3) is provided in part of the transparent region, the optical element causing an incident off-axis light beam transmitted through the optical element to be redirected away from a line parallel with the incident light beam whereby when the device is viewed in transmission directly against a backlight, the presence of the optical element cannot be discerned but when the device is moved relative to the backlight such that lines of sight from the viewer to the transparent region and from the transparent region to the backlight form an obtuse angle (?) at which redirected light is visible to the viewer, a contrast is viewed between the part of the transparent region including the optical element and another part of the transparent region.

Abstract: A grating includes an absorptive substrate and a plurality of reflective lines on the absorptive substrate. Each reflective line is formed by a plurality of reflective areas. The reflective areas can be arranged in a regular pattern. The reflective areas are between 70 nm and 120 nm in diameter. The reflective areas can be circular. The reflective areas can have a random height distribution.

Abstract: A polarizing element usable for two wavelengths in a predetermined wavelength region and having a simple structure. The polarizing element has a two-layer structure in which a grid pattern of a constant period ? having a triangular cross-section is formed on a substrate and a film with a refractive index higher than that of the substrate is deposited on the grid pattern. When first and second wavelengths ?1, ?2 satisfy ?1<?2, ? cos ?0<?1 where ?0 is the angle of incidence on the grid surface.

Abstract: An optical pulse-width modifier structure includes a first diffraction grating and an optically unpowered reversing mirror. An optical path extends between the first diffraction grating and the optically unpowered reversing mirror. A second diffraction grating lies on the optical path between the first diffraction grating and the optically unpowered mirror. A set of optically powered mirrors lies on the optical path between the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating. The diffraction gratings and mirrors are positioned such that an input light beam is diffracted from the first diffraction grating, reflected from each of the set of optically powered mirrors, diffracted from the second diffraction grating, reflected from the optically unpowered reversing mirror back to the second diffraction grating, diffracted from the second diffraction grating, reflected from each of the set of optically powered mirrors, and diffracted from the first diffraction grating as an output light beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to microoptical diffraction gratings for electromagnetic radiation and to a method suitable for the manufacture thereof. The diffraction gratings in accordance with the invention can in particular be utilized for use as microspectrometers which can be used in this connection in the form of scanning microgratings. In accordance with the object set, they should be provided with improved surface topology and should be able to be manufactured cost effectively and in high volumes. With the diffraction gratings in accordance with the invention, a surface structure is formed at a surface of a substrate and is formed from linear structural elements arranged equidistantly and aligned parallel to one another. In addition, the total surface of the substrate and of the structural elements is coated with at least one further layer which forms a uniform sinusoidal surface contoured in wave shape and having alternatingly arranged wave peaks and wave troughs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a polarization converter comprising a polarization beam splitter for receiving an input light beam and allows a transverse magnetic to pass through the polarization beam splitter and reflects a transverse electric wave and a diffraction grating having a reflectivity and polarization convertible grating for receiving the transverse electric wave reflects back a reflected transverse electric wave having a polarization rotation. The broadband wide-angle polarization beam splitter can be alternative optical elements such as a prism or an optical device having multi-layered films.

Abstract: A spill light removing device includes a first blocker which is located perpendicularly to a stream route of light being irradiated from a light source and blocks a stream of light that is incident to the surface of the first blocker, except on a hole formed on the first blocker; a pass-through tunnel which is connected to the hole and is formed in the same direction to the stream route of light and allows the stream of the light to pass through; and a second blocker which has a irregularity pattern that is formed on a inner wall of the pass-through tunnel and reflects the light that is incident in the deviated direction of the stream route of light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tunable filters. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus that allows tuning of a wavelength over a large optical band. The disclosed system and method allows an arbitrary wavelength selection of an incoming beam of light. The disclosed system and method may be used in imaging systems like telescopes or microscopes, or for point sources like laser or optical fibers. Further, in the case of optical fibers, it may be used as an add/drop filter.

Abstract: A non-specular reflective optical element comprises a reflective surface. A beam of incident light can be reflected such that the reflective angle may or may not be the same as the incident angle. In an exemplary application of a rear projection system, the non-specular folding mirror is used to project the modulated light from a light valve onto a translucent screen.

Abstract: In each light modulator element of a special light modulator with diffraction grating structure where moving ribbons and fixed ribbons are alternately arranged, the maximum light-amount (I1) when an output light-amount first becomes maximum from when the moving ribbons start to sag and the maximum light amount-voltage becoming an displacement amount (P1) at the maximum light-amount, are obtained and the minimum of a plurality of maximum light-amounts is set as a target ON light-amount (It). Since a voltage (corresponding to a displacement amount (Pt1)) between the maximum light amount-voltage and the minimum light amount-voltage at a displacement amount (P2) is obtained as a target ON-voltage for the target ON light-amount (It), it is thereby possible to prevent moving distance of the moving ribbons among ON/OFF from largely differing among the light modulator elements and achieve an appropriate image recording.

Abstract: A multi-spectrum, multi-channel imaging spectrometer includes two or more input slits or other light input devices, one for each of two or more input channels. The input slits are vertically and horizontally displaced, with respect to each other. The vertical displacements cause spectra from the two channels to be vertically displaced, with respect to each other, on a single image sensor on a stationary image plane. The horizontal displacements cause incident light beams from the respective input channels to strike a convex grating at different respective incidence angles and produce separate spectra having different respective spectral ranges. A retroflective spectrometer includes a convex grating that, by diffraction, disperses wavelengths of light at different angles and orders approximately back along an incident light beam. A single concave mirror reflects both the input channel and the dispersed spectrum.