Case 13051

Multiple Wavelength Binary Diffractive Elements

Keywords:

Diffractive optics, dichromat and trichromat fabrication, nonlinear optimization

Applications:

Optical tweezers for manipulating particles with low refractive index and trapping cold atoms, locating faint planets orbiting stars, optical-projection photolithography

Problem:

Difficult fabrication of diffractive optics due to multiple levels of phase-height or to large aspect ratios

Technology:

This invention describes a method for designing multiple wavelength binary diffractive lenses based on nonlinear optimization using genetic algorithms. These algorithms are appropriate to solve problems that are not well-suited for standard optimization algorithms such as when the energy function is discontinuous, non-differential or highly nonlinear. The invention includes a design for a dichromat, a lens that focuses one wavelength to a bright spot and a second wavelength to an overlapping ring-shaped point. It is a critical element in imaging schemes from breaking the far-field diffraction limit. The proposed technique can also be extended to design a trichromat.

Advantages:
  • Ease of fabrication of diffractive optics
  • Ability to extend application to more than two wavelengths

Inventors:
  • Rajesh Menon (Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT)
  • Paul Rogge (Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT)
  • Hsin-Yu Tsai (Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT)

Intellectual Property:

U.S. Patent Number 8,049,963; filed November 1, 2011

Publications:

N/A

Last revised: April 30, 2013

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