Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are of rising importance for many industrial laser applications, especially for laser
beam shaping and laser beam splitting. Typically, such applications require high damage threshold of the diffractive
optical elements as well as high diffraction efficiency. Usually DOEs with multilevel (step-like) phase profiles are made
microlithographically and suffer from "quantisation" errors and scattering on profile derivative discontinuities. The steplike
structure lowers the DOE damage threshold compared to the intrinsic material values.
LIMO's microoptical technology is suitable for the production of high-precision free programmable continuous surface
profiles in optical glasses, crystals and metals. It can be applied for manufacturing of microlens and micro-mirror arrays
as well as for manufacturing of diffractive optics with continuous reliefs. Both the arrays and DOEs with continuous
relief are suitable for high efficiency laser beam splitting. However, the design approaches to obtain a desirable solution
for the corresponding continuous phase profiles are different.
The results of the wave-optical simulations made by LIMO's own program and by VirtualLab software, and
experimental studies for a 1 to 11 beam splitter with a continuous profile for the wavelength of 532 nm are presented.
Continuous phase profiles for the DOEs were designed by a procedure based on the theory of beam splitting by a phase
grating. Comparative theoretical and experimental studies were also done for splitting with a double-sided microlens
array. For both types of beam splitting the efficiency can be very high (> 98%). The DOEs show especially high
homogeneities of the resulting intensity distribution, however, they are much more sensitive to wavelength variations.
The microlens arrays demonstrate even weaker ghost orders as the DOE splitters and their surface profiles are simpler.
However, the efficiency and homogeneity suffer on interlens gaps.
A new type of low-voltage planar electro-optical device for fast beam deflection is reported. It contains two EO
modulators, both working as multimode waveguides. The geometry of the waveguides (ratio height to length) enables an
efficient self-imaging of the entrance Gaussian mode. The EO modules are from LiNbO3:MgO with the thickness of 32
μm, length 9.75 mm, and width of 26 mm. The second stage works as an active phased array with 16 channels. The
design provides a flat wavefront at the exit of the system despite the discrete phase shifts in the array channels. This
makes a high steering resolution and optical efficiency possible. The full angle deflection range is of ±32•(1.27λ/D) by
using of very low control voltages of 10 - 15 V. The voltages can be further reduced down to 5 V through constructive
improvement of the EO-modules. The deflection range can be increased 16 times implementing a 3rd EO stage with a 16-
channel EO-array.
The deflector provides random access to the available angle states. The access time is limited generally by the capacity
of the EO modules. It is of only about 0.1 nF in the reported design. We estimate that thanks to the low control voltage
and electrical capacity of EO-modules a switching frequency of about 100 MHz may be possible with an advanced
electronics.
A relatively large face cross-section of about 1 mm2 will allow using the system with high power lasers and short pulse
duration.
Diffractive optical elements (DOE) play an important role for laser beam shaping in industry, for example in lithography
or parallel laser material processing. Typically such applications require high damage threshold and low background
illumination (high contrast and efficiency). Usual DOE with binary phase (step-like) profiles are made
microlithographically and suffer from substantial scattering on profile derivative discontinuities. That gives also
tendency to lower damage threshold as compared to intrinsic material values. The LIMO approach is based contrarily on
a proprietary, non etching material processing and is suitable for manufacturing of high-precision free programmable
continuous surface profiles in optical glasses and crystals. We report on linear symmetric diffractive beam splitter 1:11
with high homogeneity and efficiency > 95% and discuss also other DOE designs. The design data, simulations with
measured surface profiles and experimental intensity distributions are in very good agreement.
Furthermore we report on a new type of optical attenuator composed from two DOE gratings. Its dynamic transmission
range is 0.3% to 98%. The required lateral DOE shift is only 5 - 10 μm in the present design, so that the device can be
very fast and applicable for dynamic intensity stabilization.
We report on the fabrication of metallodielectric photonic crystals by means of interference (or holographic) lithography
and subsequent coating by gold nanoparticles. The grating is realized in a SU-8 photoresist using a He-Cd laser of
wavelength 442 nm. The use of the wavelength found within the photoresist low absorption band enables fabricating
structures that are uniform in depth. Parameters of the photoresist exposure and development for obtaining a porous
structure corresponding to an orthorhombic lattice are determined. Coating of photonic crystals by gold nanoparticles is
realized by reduction of chloroauric acid by a number of reductants in a water solution. This research shows that the
combination of interference lithography and chemical coating by metal is attractive for the fabrication of
metallodielectric photonic crystals.
Optical lithography with its 193nm technology is pushed to reach and shift its limits even further. There is strong
demand on innovations in illumination part of exposure tools. Current illumination systems consisting of diffractive and
refractive optical elements offer numerous benefits such as optimized laser beam shape with high homogeneity and high
numerical aperture enabling high efficiency.
LIMO's unique production technology is capable to manufacture free form surfaces on monolithic arrays larger than
250mm with high precision and reproducibility. Different kinds of intensity distributions with best uniformities or
customized profiles have been achieved by using LIMO's refractive optical elements.
Recently LIMO pushed the limits of this lens production technology and was able to manufacture first diffractive optical
elements (DOE) based on continuous relief's profile. Beside for the illumination devices in lithography, DOEs find wide
use in optical devices for other technological applications, such as optical communications and data processing.
Up to now DOE designs follow the principle of phase diffraction gratings. Its diffraction structure with a periodic phase
profile performs a superposition of beams with predefined energy ratios. Due to the application for high precise laser-beam
shaping and beam splitting in optical technologies and optical fiber networks, number of grating orders is increased
up to some tens or even hundreds. Classic lithographic technologies lead to quantized (step-like) profiles of diffractive
micro-reliefs, which causes a decrease of beam splitter's diffractive efficiency. The newest development of LIMO's
microlens fabrication technology allows us to make a step from free programmable microlens profiles to diffractive
optical elements with high efficiency. Our first results of this approach are demonstrated in this paper. Diffractive beam
splitters are presented. A special mathematical method is used to design diffractive optical elements with continuous
surface profiles. Comparison between theoretical simulations and experimental results shows very good correlation.
LIMO's unique production technology is capable to manufacture free form surfaces on monolithic arrays larger than 250
mm with high precision and reproducibility. Different kinds of intensity distributions with best uniformities or
customized profiles have been achieved by using LIMO's refractive optical elements. Recently LIMO pushed the limits
of this lens production technology and was able to manufacture first diffractive optical elements (DOEs) based on
continuous relief's profile.
Beside for the illumination devices in lithography, DOEs find wide use in optical devices for other technological
applications, such as optical communications, laser technologies and data processing. Classic lithographic technologies
lead to quantized (step-like) profiles of diffractive micro-reliefs, which cause a decrease of DOE's diffractive efficiency.
The newest development of LIMO's microlens fabrication technology allows us to make a step from free programmable
microlens profiles to diffractive optical elements with high efficiency. Our first results of this approach are demonstrated
in this paper. Diffractive beam splitters with continuous profile are fabricated and investigated. The results of profile
measurements and intensity distribution of the diffractive beam splitters are given. The comparison between theoretical
simulations and experimental results shows very good correlation.
A new type of electro-optical (E-O) deflector which combines microoptical laser beam manipulations and electro-optical
light wave phase control is presented. It consists of two stages, which include E-O arrays of LiNbO3 as key components.
The first stage forms a moveable "comb" of interference beamlets at the entrance to the second one. The second stage
recombines the beamlets, reconstructs a plane wavefront and converts the translational movement of the comb to an
angular deflection of the unified beam. Advantages of the concept as compared to other deflector types will be discussed.
The laboratory results with He-Ne lasers are presented. The demonstrator is designed to provide a 63 mrad deflection
with a diffraction limited resolution of 0.025 mrad. The technique is applicable for material processing with highrepetition-
rate lasers, for laser projection, lidars and in other fields where high speeds and robustness are necessary or
sources of vibration need to be avoided.
Advanced laser crystallization of Si films for large flat panel displays requires a narrow very homogeneous focus with at
least 235 mm length and high depth of focus. Earlier we have reported on the development and application of an ultranarrow
(5-9 μm) homogeneous line-shaped laser focus of 60 mm length for sequential lateral solidification (SLS) of Si.
Key element of our line shaping system is an anisotropic mode transformation of the 2nd green harmonic of a Nd:YAG
laser beam and its following homogenization for the long focus axis. The design and built-up of a much longer "green
line" requires innovative optical approaches and very high precision optical manufacturing. We analyze in detail
different process requirements, their physical compatibility (e.g. line width vs. depth of focus) and practical feasibility.
To reach high energy densities in the long lines we design optical schemas bundling up to 8 beams of separate lasers.
For the first time, the band structure of three-dimensional cubic photonic approximants of quasicrystals is studied
theoretically. The approximants of different orders are found to have large, near-isotropic band gaps in a wide range of
permittivity values. The effect of atom coordination on the size and threshold of the photonic band gap is explored. The
existence of a complete band gap in the cubic photonic quasicrystal with a body-centered six-dimensional lattice is
demonstrated.
Advanced laser crystallization of Si for flat panel displays demands a narrow line-shaped light focus with an ultimately
high homogeneity. Key element of LIMO line shaping system is an anisotropic quality transformation of a multimode
laser beam, which permits a very good homogenization for the long axis and tight focusing with a large depth of focus
for the perpendicular high-quality axis. A prototype system has been built with a 90-W 532-nm DPSS laser. It provides a
59-mm long and down to 8 μm (FWHM) narrow focus with a residual inhomogeneity of only 1% (rms). The focus width
is adjustable and its shape can be tuned from a quasi-Gauss to a top-hat intensity distribution. The depth of focus at 90%
of the peak intensity DOF0.9I varies from 120 μm for a line width of 8 μm to 275 μm for FWHM = 14 μm. The design of
longer lines is in progress at LIMO.
State-of-the art laser material processing systems impose strong requirements on the achieved beam quality. Often a
homogeneous intensity distribution in one or two directions with peak-to-valley ratio <1% is required. In this case
diffraction and interference effects must be treated with highest accuracy. To take this into account we have developed
our own software for optical design and simulation based on the solving of wave equations. This gives us a new
approach to beam shaping and beam steering problems. Special attention to wave effects has to be paid particularly when
the laser beam profile has to be transformed to a flat-top, when forming a highly homogeneous light line with large depth
of focus or when performing high resolution electro optical beam deflection. Using the wave properties of light raises
special demands on the micro lenslet arrays, because the phase relations of the individual beamlets become important.
LIMO's unique technology for manufacturing and quality control of the micro lenses with a free programmable surface
shape provides successful solutions for these tasks. Beam shaping schemes designed by us involve high technology
applications such as micro-lithography and laser annealing. High beam performance is achieved using numerous
properties of various light sources: the low spatial coherency of excimer lasers, partially coherent multi mode solid state
lasers and semiconductor lasers, highly coherent (single mode) gas lasers, solid state lasers and semiconductor lasers.
Uniform illumination of the mask plays an important role in current exposure tools and will be even more challenging
for hyper-NA systems. Arrays of refractive microoptics are the ideal solution for high transmission homogenising
elements since these arrays can provide very steep intensity profiles (top hat and other profiles), and
do not suffer from zero order losses like diffractive elements. This paper discusses monolithic elements based on
crossed cylindrical lenses with a fill factor close to 100%. The Simulations and measurements here presented
prove that microoptic arrays can be produced which provide a uniformity of the homogenized laser light in the
1% P-V range at numerical apertures above 0.3.
Refractive microoptic arrays do not change the polarization state of the transmitted light which is an important
prerequisite in immersion exposure tools. LIMO homogenizer sets are manufactured from fused silica and Calcium
fluoride and thus suitable for all DUV wavelengths at highest laser fluxes.
LIMO produces free form surfaces on monolithic arrays larger than 200 mm with high precision and reproducibility.
Surface test methods and the final UV-tests are presented, guaranteeing the performance for the applications.
Data gained with these tests are shown with regard to meeting the design parameters, reproducibility over
one wafer and reproducibility in large lots.
New concepts of "ready to use" pre-aligned homogenizer modules are shown and finally this paper illustrates results
of new refractive elements which provide additional functionality like e.g. hexagonal fields or poles. Applications
are for example pre-homogenization and pupil filling in illumination systems.
The most interesting phenomena in photonic crystals stipulate the presence of omnidirectional band gap, i.e. overlapping of stop bands in all directions. Higher rotational symmetry and isotropy of quasicrystals in comparison with ordinary crystal give a hope to achieve a gap opening at lower dielectric contrasts. But nonperiodic nature of quasicrystals makes the size of stop bands lower than in the case of ordinary periodic crystal. We study transition from periodic structure to nonperiodic one by considering pseudoquasicrystals - quasicrystal approximants with growing period to weigh advantages and disadvantages of quasicrystals. We consider the structures that can be obtained by multiple exposure holographic lithography for the case of 2, 3, 4, and 6-fold exposure by two wave interference pattern, corresponding square, hexagonal, 8-fold and 12-fold symmetry lattice.
Uniform illumination of the mask plays an important role in current exposure tools and will be even more challenging for hyper-NA systems. Arrays of refractive microoptics are the ideal solution for high transmission homogenising elements since these arrays can provide very steep intensity profiles (top hat and other profiles), and do not suffer from zero order losses like diffractive elements. This paper discusses monolithic elements based on crossed cylindrical lenses with a fill factor close to 100%. The Simulations and measurements here presented prove that microoptic arrays can be produced which provide a uniformity of the homogenized laser light in the 1% P-V range at numerical apertures above 0.3. Refractive microoptic arrays do not change the polarization state of the transmitted light which is an important prerequisite in immersion exposure tools. LIMO homogenizer sets are manufactured from fused silica and Calcium fluoride and thus suitable for all DUV wavelengths at highest laser fluxes. LIMO produces free form surfaces on monolithic arrays larger than 200 mm with high precision and reproducibility. Surface test methods and the final UV-tests are presented, guaranteeing the performance for the applications. Data gained with these tests are shown with regard to meeting the design parameters, reproducibility over one wafer and reproducibility in large lots. New concepts of "ready to use" pre-aligned homogenizer modules are shown and finally this paper illustrates results of new refractive elements which provide additional functionality like e.g. hexagonal fields or poles. Applications are for example pre-homogenization and pupil filling in illumination systems.
A scheme of light coupling into optical fiber was proposed and studied theoretically. Light coupling is realized by excitation of photorefractive oscillator. It consist of fiber facet and phase conjugate mirror based on four wave mixing. The scheme is self-adaptive and can tolerate rather large angular and lateral displacement of fiber end. As a result of numerical simulation we obtain that about 50 percent of reading pump wave intensity can be injected into the fiber. Coupling efficiency is decreased by factor of two when the lateral displacement of fiber end about 1000 micrometers .
We demonstrate a photorefractive scheme that demultiplexes two signals carried on a multimode fiber. The signal channels must be spatially and temporally uncorrelated. This method is based on selective energy transfer in photorefractive two-beam coupling. Under two-beam coupling in photorefractive crystal the energy exchange between beams take place only for signal carrier which form a speckle pattern modulated with frequency equal to the frequency detuning between two beams. Extraction of each signal was performed by the measurement of difference of beam intensities. The modulation of two speckle patterns with different frequencies was obtained by rotation of light polarization at the entrance of fiber.
Grating recording by phase modulated light beams in photorefractive Bi12TiO20 crystal under external AC field is studied experimentally. It was shown that maximum grating amplitude or energy exchange are achieved for regime of modulation corresponding to intermediate case between two usually used methods of recording in ac field: by standing and running interference pattern.
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