Micro-Optics

Die MIKRO- UND NANOOPTIK hat sich zu einer Schlüsseltechnologie der modernen Photonik entwickelt. Die Bandbreite aktueller Entwicklungen reicht beispielsweise von adaptiven Mikrooptiken über die 3D-Laserlithografie bis hin zur Subwellenlängen-Mikrooptik auf Basis von Metamaterialien.

Published in Mikroproduktion 02/11

Microlens array homogenizers are an attractive choice in the field of radiometry and photometry to generate highly uniform beams with high efficiency. In the present paper a microlens array homogenizer used to determine the spectral responsivity of large size, partially filtered photometer is presented. The effect of non-uniformity of the field is shown to be smaller than 0.2% in the whole visible spectrum.

We will discuss the concepts of Köhler illumination and Köhler integrators and its limitations and constrains for laser beam homogenizing. We will show how micro-optical elements comprised of a randomly varying component can be used to smooth out interference and speckle effects within the far-field intensity profile.

The paper will emphasize recent improvements to both hardware and process methodology in an effort to broaden the scope of structures and materials suitable for spray coating. Practical extensions of this new technology will be explored and discussed, along with an assortment of new structures and applications that spray coating has enabled.

Photonics is said to be the most important key technology in the 21st century, some even call the 21st century the “photon century”. It might be a bit too early to name a whole century after it, but indeed, photon-based technology has much impact on our everyday life at the beginning of the new century. Chip manufacturing, lighting, health care and life-sciences, space, defense, and the  transport and automotive sector rely on photon-based technology. Photonics isalso supposed to offer novel solutions where today’s conventional technologiesreach their limits in terms of velocity, capacity and accuracy.