Refraction and interference in micro- and nanostructure optical elements

Toralf Scharf; Sylvain Jaquet; Patrick Ruffieux; Hans Peter Herzig

doi:10.1117/12.780984

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14 May 2008 Refraction and interference in micro- and nanostructure optical elements

Toralf Scharf; Sylvain Jaquet; Patrick Ruffieux; Hans Peter Herzig

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Proceedings Volume 6992, Micro-Optics 2008; 69920E (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.780984
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2008, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

Iridescent colors created by sophisticated nanostructured materials are known from nature and attract a lot of attention nowadays. A closer look reveals that such colors are often produced by combination of structures at different lengths scales at the micrometer and nanometer level. While simulation and analysis of such structures can be done with rigorous methods fabrication is seldom attacked because if its complexity. We have chosen a particular design concept that uses Bragg reflectors as dispersive components and microoptical elements to steer the light. We focused on fabrication in organic materials, where compatibility of different process steps is an issue. Fabrication is done by spin-coating of thin films and soft replication of microoptical elements. The structures were entirely fabricated in polymer materials on glass substrates or polymer films that serve as substrates. Microoptical structures with dimensions ranging from 30 to 250 microns are embossed on Bragg reflectors having periods of 160 nm. Of main interest for us were the spectral reflection properties. Reflection properties were measured for white light in a goniometric setup and their behavior is discussed. To understand the basic features modeling is carried out by combining ray tracing and rigorous methods.

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Toralf Scharf, Sylvain Jaquet, Patrick Ruffieux, and Hans Peter Herzig "Refraction and interference in micro- and nanostructure optical elements", Proc. SPIE 6992, Micro-Optics 2008, 69920E (14 May 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.780984

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