Abstract: An optical semiconductor element includes: a grating base layer including a projection-recess structure disposed over a substrate; and a grating cover layer including a group III-V semiconductor having three or more elements, wherein the grating cover layer includes a first region which is disposed over recessed portions of the grating base layer and which has a compositional ratio of a group III-V semiconductor having a first refractive index, and a second region which is disposed over projecting portions of the grating base layer and which has a compositional ratio of a group III-V semiconductor having a second refractive index that is smaller than the first refractive index, wherein the grating base layer includes a group III-V semiconductor having a third refractive index that is smaller than the first refractive index.

Abstract: The laminated diffractive optical element includes plural diffraction gratings 21, 22 and 23 laminated with each other, the respective diffraction gratings being formed of a same light-transmissive material. In the element, reflective films are formed on grating surfaces 11 and 12 of the respective diffraction gratings, each of the reflective films being disposed between the diffraction gratings. Each of the reflective films reflects light in a specific wavelength range and transmits light in a wavelength range different from the specific wavelength range, the specific wavelength ranges of the respective reflective films being different from each other. The grating surfaces of the respective diffraction gratings are formed in shapes different from each other according to the specific wavelength ranges corresponding to the respective reflective films.

Abstract: A first article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions and a reflective coating that provides reflective diffraction within the article but is sufficiently thick to prevent diffraction outside the article. Alternatively, the reflective coating can be arranged to also provide reflective diffraction outside the article. A second article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions. Either (i) at least a portion of each ridge, or (ii) at least portion of each trench, comprises a material differing with respect to its refractive index or with respect to its optical transmissivity.

Abstract: An integrated sub-wavelength grating element includes a transparent layer formed over an optoelectronic substrate layer and a sub-wavelength grating element formed into a grating layer disposed on said transparent layer. The sub-wavelength grating element is formed in alignment with an active region of an optoelectronic component within the optoelectronic substrate layer. The sub-wavelength grating element affects light passing between said grating element and said active region. A method for forming an integrated sub-wavelength grating element is also provided.

Abstract: Methods for magnetic recording are provided. The method can include: assembling a plurality of nanoparticles into a pattern on a disc; applying a polymer composition onto the pattern of nanoparticles; curing the polymer composition to form a polymer film on the disc, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are immobilized in the pattern within the polymer film upon curing; and removing the polymer film containing the plurality of nanoparticles in the pattern. Diffraction gratings are also provided that can include a polymeric film comprising a plurality of nanoparticles immobilized in a pattern, wherein the polymer film defines a curvature.

Abstract: Provided are an organic-inorganic composite resin composition and an organic-inorganic composite resin material made of a cured product thereof, containing at least an organic compound having a polymerizable functional group, metal oxide fine particles, and a polymerization initiator. The cured product obtained by curing the organic-inorganic composite resin composition through application of an active energy has a refractive index nd of 1.61 or more and 1.65 or less, Abbe's number ?d of 13 or more and 20 or less, and an anomalous dispersion characteristic ?g,F of 0.42 or more and 0.54 or less. Further provided is an optical element comprising a transparent substrate and the organic-inorganic composite resin material formed on the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a diffraction grating comprises below steps. Firstly providing a substrate which having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. Then providing a first predetermined function associated with arrangement of the grooves of the first grating and a second predetermined function associated with arrangement of the grooves of the second grating. Thirdly transforming the first function into a first Fourier series and transforming the second function into a second Fourier series. Fourthly forming the first grating on the first surface of the substrate using a fast tool sever system according to the first Fourier series. Lastly forming the second grating on the second surface using the fast tool sever system according to the second Fourier series.

Abstract: An achromatic lens system is provided with a cemented resin lens having positive refractive power constructed by a resin lens L11 having positive refractive power cemented with a resin lens L12 having negative refractive power, and a close-contact multi-layer type diffractive optical element L11E, the diffractive optical element L11E being disposed to an image side of the cemented resin lens, the diffractive optical element L11E being constructed by cementing two diffractive element members DE11, DE12 each made of different optical materials with each other, and the cemented surface thereof being a diffractive optical surface Gf on which grooves of a diffraction grating are formed, there by being lightweight and easily manufactured, capable of excellently correcting chromatic aberration and spherical aberration at the same time.

Abstract: Several techniques are provided to reduce the spurious reflection generated at the exit surface of a transmission grating. In one embodiment the exit surface of the grating is not parallel with the entrance surface. In another embodiment, the first and second surfaces of the grating are parallel and a second substrate is attached to the second surface of the grating. The second substrate has an entrance surface and an exit surface having at least a wedge angle relative to the entrance surface. In another embodiment, a second substrate is fixedly connected to the second surface of a parallel plate grating, where the second substrate has an entrance surface and an exit surface. The exit surface is curved such that it will be about normal to a beam transmitted over a range of angels of incidence onto the grating region.

Abstract: The optical system includes plural lens groups, a negative lens included in one lens group among the plural lens groups and formed of a first medium, a diffractive grating formed on at least one lens surface of the negative lens and being in contact with a second medium different from the first medium, and a positive lens included in the one lens group and formed of a third medium different from the first medium and the second medium. The first medium satisfies ndA?1.7 and 40??dA?55 where ndA represents a refractive index of the first medium for a d-line, and ?dA represents an Abbe number of the first medium for the d-line. The third medium satisfies ndC?1.55 and ?dC?60 where ndC represents a refractive index of the third medium for the d-line, and ?dC represents an Abbe number of the third medium for the d-line.

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

Abstract: A diffractive optical element is made by layering first and second diffractive gratings. A difference of an extinction coefficient to d-line between the two materials of each of the first and second diffractive grating is larger than 0.0002 and smaller than 0.002. The following conditional expressions are satisfied 0.05<|?nd1|<0.3, 0.05<|?nd2|<0.3, 20<|??d1|<40, and |??d2|<15, where ?nd1, ?nd2 are differences of a refractive index to the d-line between the two materials of the first and second diffractive gratings, and ??d1, ??d2 are differences of an Abbe number between the two materials of the first and second diffractive gratings.

Abstract: Planar lenses and reflectors are described comprising subwavelength high-contrast gratings (HCG) having high index of refraction grating elements spaced apart from one another in straight and/or curved segments and surrounded by low index material. The high-contrast grating is configured to receive an incident wave which excites multiple modes within the high-contrast grating and is focused for reflection and/or transmission by said high contrast grating. The width of the high contrast grating bars vary along a distribution direction of the grating bars which is perpendicular to the length of the grating bars and/or varies along the length of one or more grating bars to focus said reflection and/or transmission. The HCG is configured to provide double focusing, whose use is exemplified within a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure using focusing HCG structures for both the top and bottom mirrors.

Abstract: An Al film is formed so that film forming particles are incident at normal incidence to grating wall surfaces of a diffraction grating having multiple grating portions and are incident at oblique incidence to optical effective surfaces. After that, oxidation treatment is performed from a direction to be incident at normal incidence to the optical effective surface so that the Al layer on the optical effective surface is changed to Al2O3 layer. Hence, in the diffraction grating having the multiple grating portions, the Al2O3 layer is formed on the optical effective surface for transmitting light, and the Al layer is formed on the grating wall surfaces as a light shielding layer. Thus, flare of the diffractive optical element can be suppressed.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element according to the present invention includes: a body 1 being composed of a first optical material containing a first resin, and having a diffraction grating 2 on a surface thereof; and an optical adjustment layer 3 being composed of a second optical material containing a second resin, and provided on the body so as to cover the diffraction grating. A difference between a solubility parameter of the first resin and a solubility parameter of the second resin is 0.8 [cal/cm3]1/2 or more, and the first resin and the second resin each have a benzene ring.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element disclosed in the present application includes: a base which is made of a first optical material containing a first resin and which has a diffraction grating in its surface; and an optical adjustment layer which is made of a second optical material containing a second resin and inorganic particles and which is provided on the base so as to cover the diffraction grating, wherein ?SP which is defined by a formula shown below is not less than ?0.7 and not more than +0.7 [cal/cm3]1/2: ?SP=[a solubility parameter of the second resin]?[a solubility parameter of the first resin], and a design order of diffraction caused by the diffraction grating is nth order, and unwanted order diffracted light of n+1th order in a wavelength range of not less than 400 nm and not more than 700 nm is not more than 7%.

Abstract: Spectral Purity Filters, or SPFs, are disclosed. Such SPFs are designed to block out the 1030 nm drive laser and other undesired out of band light in a EUV mask inspection system. Different phase grating configurations for near normal incidence and grazing incidence are provided in the present disclosure and are configured specifically for EUV mask inspection.

Abstract: An optical element includes a structured carrier layer having a macrostructure at a main surface and a layer of cured material. The layer of cured material includes an optically smooth surface facing away from the main surface, a macrostructure surface of the surface being dependent on the macrostructure of the carrier layer and on a layer thickness profile of the layer.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes multiple diffraction gratings laminated and made of at least three material types, wherein the multiple diffraction gratings include: a first combination part including two diffraction gratings of materials different from each other in which grating side surfaces of grating parts contact with each other or are disposed close to each other in a grating pitch direction; and a second combination part including two diffraction gratings of materials different from each other in which at least one material is different from the materials of the first combination part; and when N1Aw and N1Bw denote refractive indices of the first combination part at a wavelength (w), ?1A and ?1B denote Abbe numbers, N2Ad and N2Bd denote refractive indices of the second combination part on a d-line, ?2A and ?2B denote Abbe numbers, the wavelength (w) is 370<w<730 (nm). The followings are satisfied: N1Aw?N1Bw=0; 16<(?1A??1B)<75; 0.03<|N2Ad?N2Bd|<0.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element has higher diffraction efficiency of diffracted light of a designed order in a visible wavelength range. The diffractive optical element includes a diffraction grating part provided on a lens surface of an optical system and constituted by laminating first and second diffraction gratings made of two different materials. Each of the first and second diffraction gratings includes a grating surface and a grating wall surface. The grating surfaces of the first and second diffraction gratings are in contact with each other. The diffraction grating part has the designed order of at least +2nd order and has a grating height of at least 6 ?m.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element according to the present invention includes: a body 1 being composed of a first optical material containing a first resin, and having a diffraction grating 2 on a surface thereof; and an optical adjustment layer 3 being composed of a second optical material containing a second resin, and provided on the body 1 so as to cover the diffraction grating 2. The first optical material has a refractive index which is smaller than a refractive index of the second optical material; the refractive index of the first optical material has a wavelength dispersion which is greater than a wavelength dispersion of the refractive index of the second optical material; and a difference in solubility parameter between the first resin and the second resin is no less than 0.8 [cal/cm3]1/2 and no more than 2.5 [cal/cm3]1/2.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element (1) formed by stacking each of two resin layers (4, 6) on a glass substrate (2), wherein when the second resin layer (6) of the two resin layers (4, 6) counting from the glass substrate (2) is formed, an external circumferential part of the second resin layer (6) is formed so as to be located inward of the outer circumferential part, of the first resin layer (4), which is located closer to the glass substrate (2) than the second resin layer (6).

Abstract: Apparatus for projecting a pattern includes a first diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to diffract an input beam so as to generate a first diffraction pattern on a first region of a surface, the first diffraction pattern including a zero order beam. A second DOE is configured to diffract the zero order beam so as to generate a second diffraction pattern on a second region of the surface such that the first and the second regions together at least partially cover the surface.

Abstract: Improved Light Re-directing Elements (ILRE) are provided in which a diffracting region is combined with a light scattering region to correct angular chromatic dispersion. Further embodiments include optical devices and systems using ILRE to reduce moiré, efficiently re-direct light, improve spatial and angular color and luminance uniformity, and reduce wavelength dispersion. In one embodiment, the light scattering region is a volumetric anisotropic light scattering region. Embodiments are included for use of ILRE in light emitting devices, displays and light fixtures.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes a first diffractive grating including a first grating surface and a first grating wall surface, a light shielding member disposed on the first grating wall surface, and a second diffractive grating including a second grating surface and a second grating wall surface, disposed so that the second grating surface contacts the first grating surface and the second grating wall surface contacts the light shielding member. An extinction coefficient k of a material that constitutes the light shielding member meets the expression of 0.001<k<0.5.

Abstract: A diffraction optical system comprises a free curve surface prism (14), and a multilayer diffractive optical element in which a plurality of diffractive element members (121, 122) are laminated together and a diffractive optical surface (DM) having a grating structure is formed at the interface thereof. The diffraction optical system further satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.005<(?Ng+?Ns)/2<0.45, where ?Ng denotes a refractive index difference at g-line on the diffractive optical surface (DM), and ?Ns denotes a refractive index difference at s-line on the diffractive optical surface (DM).

Abstract: A light-trapping sheet of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of light-transmitting sheets each having first and second principal surfaces; and a plurality of light-coupling structures arranged in an inner portion of each of the plurality of light-transmitting sheets at a first and second distance from the first and second principal surfaces, respectively. Each of the plurality of light-coupling structures includes a first light-transmitting layer, a second light-transmitting layer, and a third light-transmitting layer sandwiched therebetween. A refractive index of the first and second light-transmitting layers is smaller than a refractive index of the light-transmitting sheet; and a refractive index of the third light-transmitting layer is larger than the refractive index of the first and second light-transmitting layers. The third light-transmitting layer has a diffraction grating parallel to the first and second principal surfaces of the light-transmitting sheet.

Abstract: A laminated diffraction optical element includes a substrate, and a resin layer provided on the substrate and including an optically effective portion and an optically non-effective outer portion adjacent to the optically effective portion. The optically non-effective outer portion in the resin layer has a continuous shape such that a layer thickness decreases when extending toward an outer periphery of the substrate. An angle formed between a straight line connecting both ends of the continuous shape and a tangent to a surface of the substrate at a point opposite to an end closer to the surface of the substrate is within a range of 20 to 60 degrees.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes first and second optical members which are stacked. The first optical member includes a diffraction grating in which a plurality of raised portions each having a vertical surface and a surface inclined to the vertical surface are arranged. The second optical member includes a diffraction grating in which a plurality of recessed portions are arranged, to which the raised portions are fitted. The diffraction grating of the first optical member and the diffraction grating of the second optical member are in close contact with each other. A ridge portion of the raised portion defines a curved surface. A curvature radius R (?m) of the curved surface, a pitch P (mm) of the raised portions, and a refractive index difference ?nd between the first and second optical members satisfy a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: According to a method for producing a diffraction optical element, the center of a molding face and the center of a substrate are positionally aligned to each other based on a marker of a prescribed shape which is formed at the center of the molding face of a mold and the shape of a diffraction grating of the substrate. A nanocomposite material is located between the molding face and the diffraction grating, and the material is pressed by the mold and the substrate to form an optical adjusting layer on the diffraction grating.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device that includes a substrate, a plurality of pillars arrayed on the surface of the substrate at intervals of a pitch that is equal to or less than the wavelength of incident light, and a medium that fills the gaps between the pillars and that has a different refractive index from the pillars. Each of the pillars has one or more steps that discontinuously change the transverse cross-sectional area of the pillar, along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The transverse cross-sectional area of at least one of step portions formed by the steps of the pillar differs from the transverse cross-sectional area of an adjacent pillar.

Abstract: A transmitting diffraction element may include a transparent substrate, and a plurality of convex parts periodically formed on one surface of the transparent substrate, and be configured to diffract incident light to the transparent substrate. Each of the convex parts may include first, second, third, and fourth layers that are stacked on the transparent substrate. The first and third layers may be made of a material having a high refractive index, and the second and fourth layers may be made of a material having a low refractive index that is lower than the high refractive index.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite optical elements, and particularly to a composite optical element including a first optical component and a second optical component coupled to the first optical component. The present invention is advantageous in enhancing optical properties. A composite optical element (1) includes a first optical component (10) and a second optical component (20). The first optical component (10) is made of first glass and has a lens surface (12). The second optical component (20) is made of a material different from the first glass, is coupled to the first optical component (10) at a lens surface (22), and has a lens surface (22) at a side opposite to the first coupling surface (21). The lens surface (12) partially has a first uneven region (12a). The lens surface (22) partially has a second uneven region (22a).

Abstract: A laminated diffractive optical element including a colorant-containing first layer having a diffraction grating surface with a grating height X and a second layer closely stacked on the diffraction grating surface of the first layer, wherein the relation of internal transmittances T?, a and T?, b of a material (a) for forming the first layer and a material (b) for forming the second layer satisfies the following (Formula 1) and the relation of the maximum and minimum internal transmittances T?, MAX and T?, MIN of the laminated diffractive optical element satisfies the following Formula (2): 2.0%?|T?, a?T?, b|??(Formula 1) T?, MAX?T?, MIN?8.0% ??(Formula 2) This reduces shading on the image surface resulting from the difference in transmittance of the optical element to provide a laminated diffractive optical element having reduced variation in transmittance.

Abstract: Provided is a diffractive optical element that is formed by laminating two optical material layers formed of different energy-cured resins; in which a relief pattern is formed at the interface between the two optical material layers; and that satisfies the following conditional expressions: 0.01<d2/d1<0.2??(1) 0.05<d1/?E<1.0??(2) 0.0005<d2/?E<0.1??(3) wherein d1 is the center plate thickness (mm) of one optical material layer 2 that is cured first, d2 is the center plate thickness (mm) of the other optical material layer 3 that is cured later, and ?E is the effective diameter (mm) of the relief pattern 4.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes a first optical member having a first diffraction grating with a sawtooth cross section; and a second optical member which has a second diffraction grating having a sawtooth cross section and which has a refractive index different from that of the first optical member. In the diffractive optical element, the first and second optical members are stacked so that the first and second diffraction gratings closely contact each other. Arithmetical mean roughness of a diffraction surface of the first diffraction grating is set so as to fall within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes a diffraction grating portion including a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating, the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating being formed of different materials and being stacked so that grating surfaces thereof are in contact with each other, in which the first diffraction grating is formed of a first grating material having at least three kinds of materials mixed therein, and the following conditions are satisfied: nd1<nd2; ?d1<?d2; ?gF1<(?1.665E?07×?d13+5.213E?05×?d12?5.656E?03×?d1+0.715); ?gF1>(+4.80E?03×?d1+0.33); and ?gF1>(?4.73E?02×?d1+1.31), where nd1, ?d1, and ?gF1 represent a refractive index, an Abbe number, and a partial dispersion ratio, respectively, of the first grating material with respect to a d-line, and nd2 and ?d2 represent a refractive index and an Abbe number, respectively, of a second grating material forming the second diffraction grating with respect to the d-line.

Abstract: In a diffractive optical element, first and second optical members are stacked, and a diffraction grating is formed at an interface between the first and second optical members. In the diffractive optical element, an absorption coefficient ? (mm?1) of the first optical member and a grating height h (?m) of the diffraction grating satisfy expressions (1) and (2): ??0.04??(1) h?263.18×??0.9454??(2).

Abstract: An exterior part (200) includes (a) a structure color generation portion (210) having a minute shape (structure color generation region (211)) formed therein, light in a visible light range being produced from the minute shape by a physical phenomenon such as interference or diffraction with the incidence of light, and (b) a resin portion (220) that is made of resin having a light transmitting property and serves as the outer surface of a product, (c) the structure color generation portion (210) and the resin portion (220) are formed by molding, and (d) the structure color generation portion (210) is made of resin different from the resin of the resin portion (220), and covered with the resin portion (220).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aphakic intraocular lens that is capable of ensuring every multi-focusing effect more securely, while reducing the impact of aperture changes and lens eccentricity. At least two reliefs whose first order diffracted lights give respective focal distances different from one another are set to overlap with each other in at least a part of an area in a radial direction of the lens, and with respect to every grating pitches of one relief having a maximum grating pitch among the reliefs set up in overlap, grating pitches of another relief are overlapped periodically in order to obtain a relief pattern, so that the resulting relief pattern is formed on a lens surface.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element is provided, which includes a first layer having a material of a refractive index n1(?), a second layer, adjacent to the first layer, having a material of a refractive index n2(?) and a diffraction structure formed at the interface between the first layer and the second layer. The material of at least one of the two layers is obtained by curing an optical adhesive.

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 A. 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: Provided is a microscope optical system in which the occurrence of flare due to unnecessary-order diffracted light exited from a diffractive optical element is suppressed. A microscope objective lens MS is configured by including an objective lens OL which has a diffractive optical element GD and converts light from an object into a substantially parallel light flux, and a second objective lens IL which forms an image of the object by focusing the substantially parallel light flux from the objective lens OL, and is configured such that, in case where an m-th order of diffracted light from the diffractive optical element GD is used for the image formation, the following expression is satisfied: |?|>tan?1(0.06/0) when the light of a maximum NA emitted from the object located on an optical axis enters the diffractive optical element.

Abstract: An optical element including: a first light transmitting layer having a first sawtooth blazed surface, the first light transmitting layer including a plurality of first light-transmitting slopes defining a first blaze angle ?; and a second light transmitting layer having a second sawtooth blazed surface including a plurality of second light-transmitting slopes defining a second blaze angle ?, the second light transmitting layer being in contact with the first sawtooth blazed surface of the first light transmitting layer. A tilting direction of the first light-transmitting slope and a tilting direction of the second light-transmitting slope are opposite.

Abstract: In a diffractive optical element, a first optical member and a second optical member are stacked, and a diffraction grating is formed at an interface between the first and second optical members. The diffractive optical element is configured so that the followings fall within a predetermined range: an inter-material gradient which is a ratio of an amount of change in reference refractive indexes between the first optical member and the second optical member, to an amount of change in principal dispersions between the first optical member and the second optical member; and a blaze wavelength of the diffraction grating.

Abstract: An optical arrangement includes a light source which emits coherent light of a wavelength ?, and a diffraction grating which has a multiplicity of diffraction structures which follow one another periodically at the spacing of a grating period d and are arranged along a base surface, the individual diffraction structures respectively having a blaze flank and an antiblaze flank, the blaze flanks being arranged at an angle ? and the antiblaze flanks being arranged at an angle ? to the base surface, and respectively neighbouring blaze and antiblaze flanks enclosing an apex angle ?, and an incident light beam being arranged at a Littrow angle ?L relative to a grating normal of the diffraction grating.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical grating structure embedded between media of substantially the same optical refractive index, the structure having an optical coating at the interface between the two media, wherein the structure comprises grating facets inclined relative to the interface plane such that, in use, anomalous optical effects due to coating are substantially reduced.

Abstract: A diffractive pigment blend or composition is provided which includes a plurality of groups of all-dielectric diffractive pigment flakes. The pigment flakes of each group each include one or more dielectric layers for providing a background color, at least one of which includes a diffractive structure for providing a diffractive effect. Each group of pigment flakes provides a different diffractive effect, and the diffractive pigment blend or composition provides a combined diffractive effect that is a combination of the different diffractive effects. The combined diffractive effect may be a neutral white diffractive effect or may include a reversal in color travel.

Abstract: A security device comprising at least first and second superposed optically variable effect generating structures (3-5, 31-51), each having a surface relief microstructure, the second optically variable effect generating structure being viewable through the first.

Abstract: The invention provides an energy dispersion device, spectrograph and method that can be used to evaluate the composition of matter on site without the need for specialized training or expensive equipment. The energy dispersion device or spectrograph can be used with a digital camera or cell phone. A device of the invention includes a stack of single- or double-dispersion diffraction gratings that are rotated about their normal giving rise to a multiplicity of diffraction orders from which meaningful measurements and determinations can be made with respect to the qualitative or quantitative characteristics of matter.