Low cost dispersive optical elements
A dispersive optical element includes a substrate including a dielectric material, an optical coating arranged on the substrate, and a layer of material including a microscale feature arranged directly on the optical coating.
1. A dispersive optical element, comprising:
a substrate comprising a dielectric material;
an optical coating arranged on the substrate; and
a layer of material comprising a microscale feature arranged directly on and adhered to the optical coating, the layer of material being a sintered metal oxide, a sintered ceramic material, a curable polymer, or a self-assembled block copolymer.
2. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical coating is an antireflective coating or a high reflecting coating.
3. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , wherein the layer of material is a film that comprises a plurality of grooves.
4. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , further comprising another optical coating arranged on an opposing side of the substrate.
5. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , wherein the layer of material further comprises a metal layer.
6. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , wherein the layer of material comprising the microscale feature has a pattern of microscale features that are irregular.
7. The dispersive optical element of claim 1 , wherein the dispersive optical element diffracts light in the visible region, the infrared region, the microwave region, or the radio wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
8. A dispersive optical element, comprising:
a substrate comprising a dielectric material;
a first optical coating arranged on the substrate;
a layer of material comprising a microscale feature arranged directly on and adhered to the first optical coating, the layer of material being a sintered metal oxide, a sintered ceramic material, a curable polymer, or a self-assembled block copolymer; and
a second optical coating arranged on the substrate on a side opposing the first optical coating.
9. The dispersive optical element of claim 8 , wherein the layer of material comprising the microscale feature diffracts light of a first wavelength and is transparent to light of a second wavelength, and the optical coating reflects or transmits light of the second wavelength.
10. The dispersive optical element of claim 8 , wherein the layer of material further comprises a metal layer.
11. The dispersive optical element of claim 8 , wherein the dispersive optical element diffracts light in the visible region, the infrared region, the microwave region, or the radio wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.