Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are becoming more and more widely used in a braod range of fields, including telecommunications, optical computing, consumer electronics, laser material processing and the biomedical sciences, to manipulate light through micro-optical systems. In order to get the most out of such DOEs, knowledge of the design process, fabrication, packaging in a particular system, and operation is required. Digital Diffractive Optics discusses in detail the design and simulation of DOEs, before considering the main fabrication techniques. The increasingly important CAD/CAM tool requirements for the production of DOEs are covered, and a chapter is devoted to the crucial area of systematic fabrication error compensation. Finally, the integration and use of DOEs in a number of different systems, including various opto-electronic and opto-mechanical systems, are discussed. Digital Diffractive Optics will be of great interest to all those involved in the fields of optical engineering and photonics. It presents a clear view of the whole process, from design to fabrication and application, without overstressing the, often complex, mathematics, and will thus be accessible to postgraduate students and those entering the field, as well as more experienced engineers and scientists.

This book provides the reader with the broad range of materials that were discussed in a series of short courses presented at Georgia Tech on the design, fabrication, and testing of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Although there are not long derivations or detailed methods for specific engineering calculations, the reader should be familiar and comfortable with basic computational techniques. This text is not a 'cookbook' for producing DOEs, but it should provide readers with sufficient information to assess whether this technology would benefit their work, and to understand the requirements for using the concepts and techniques presented by the authors.

Miniaturization and mass replications have begun to lead the optical industry in the transition from traditional analog to novel digital optics. As digital optics enter the realm of mainstream technology through the worldwide sale of consumer electronic devices, this timely book aims to present the topic of digital optics in a unified way. Ranging from micro-optics to nanophotonics, and design to fabrication through to integration in final products, it reviews the various physical implementations of digital optics in either micro-refractives, waveguide (planar lightwave chips), diffractive and hybrid optics or sub-wavelength structures (resonant gratings, surface plasmons, photonic crystals and metamaterials). Finally, it presents a comprehensive list of industrial and commercial applications that are taking advantage of the unique properties of digital optics. Applied Digital Optics is aimed primarily at optical engineers and product development and technical marketing managers; it is also of interest to graduate-level photonics students and micro-optic foundries. Helps optical engineers review and choose the appropriate software tools to design, model and generate fabrication files. Gives product managers access to an exhaustive list of applications available in today’s market for integrating such digital optics, as well as where the next potential application of digital optics might be. Provides a broad view for technical marketing managers in all aspects of digital optics, and how such optics can be classified. Explains the numerical implementation of optical design and modelling techniques. Enables micro-optics foundries to integrate the latest fabrication and replication techniques, and accordingly fine tune their own fabrication processes.

"Given the many different applications and uses of diffractive optics, the importance of this field cannot be underestimated. This book supplements the available literature on diffractive optic elements (DOEs) by equipping readers with the skills to begin designing, simulating, and fabricating diffractive optics. The design of DOEs is presented with simple equations and step-by-step procedures for simulation--from the simplest 1D grating to the more complex multifunctional DOEs--and analyzing their diffraction patterns using MATLAB. The fundamentals of fabrication techniques such as photolithography, electron beam lithography, and focused ion beam lithography with basic instructions for the beginner are presented. Basic error analysis and error-correction techniques for a few cases are also discussed. The contents of all the chapters are supported throughout by practical exercises and clearly commented MATLAB® codes (the codes are also on an accompanying CD), making this book useful even to a novice programmer"--

Diffractive optics involves the manipulation of light using diffractive optical elements (DOEs). DOEs are being widely applied in such areas as telecommunications, electronics, laser technologies and biomedical engineering. Computer design of diffractive optics provides an authoritative guide to the principles and applications of computer-designed diffractive optics.The theoretical aspects underpinning diffractive optics are initially explored, including the main equations in diffraction theory and diffractive optical transformations. Application of electromagnetic field theory for calculating diffractive gratings and related methods in micro-optics are discussed, as is analysis of transverse modes of laser radiation and the formation of self-replicating multimode laser beams. Key applications of DOEs reviewed include geometrical optics approximation, scalar approximation and optical manipulation of micro objects, with additional consideration of multi-order DOEs and synthesis of DOEs on polycrystalline diamond films.With its distinguished editor and respected team of expert contributors, Computer design of diffractive optics is a comprehensive reference tool for professionals and academics working in the field of optical engineering and photonics. - Explores the theoretical aspects underpinning diffractive optics - Discusses key applications of diffractive optical elements - A comprehensive reference for professionals and academics in optical engineering and photonics

Recent advancements in microfabrication technologies and the development of powerful simulation tools have led to a significant expansion of diffractive optics and diffractive optical components. Instrument developers can choose from a broad range of diffractive optics elements to complement refractive and reflective components in achieving a desired control of the optical field. This Field Guide provides the operational principles and established terminology of diffractive optics as well as a comprehensive overview of the main types of diffractive optics components. An emphasis is placed on the qualitative explanation of the diffraction phenomenon by the use of field distributions and graphs, providing the basis for understanding the fundamental relations and important trends.

Traditional macro-optics can be designed without complex design software tools. However, digital optics, especially wafer-scale micro-optics, require specific software and tools. There is often no analytical solution, and thus complex iterative optimization algorithms may be required. This book covers refractive and diffractive micro-optics, the iterative optimization process, and modeling and fabrication techniques crucial to this field. The ability to create hybrid systems capable of producing analog and digital functionality is also addressed.