Work

Sub-micrometre accurate free-form optics by three-dimensional printing on single-mode fibres

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Micro-optics are widely used in numerous applications, such as beam shaping, collimation, focusing and imaging. We use femtosecond 3D printing to manufacture free-form micro-optical elements. Our method gives sub-micrometre accuracy so that direct manufacturing even on single-mode fibres is possible. We demonstrate the potential of our method by writing different collimation optics, toric lenses, free-form surfaces with polynomials of up to 10th order for intensity beam shaping, as well as chiral photonic crystals for circular polarization filtering, all aligned onto the core of the single-mode fibres. We determine the accuracy of our optics by analysing the output patterns as well as interferometrically characterizing the surfaces. We find excellent agreement with numerical calculations. 3D printing of microoptics can achieve sufficient performance that will allow for rapid prototyping and production of beam-shaping and imaging devices.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11763

Authors: Timo Gissibl, Simon Thiele, Alois Herkommer, Harald Giessen

Institution: University of Stuttgart

Language: English

Topic: Laser Material Processing Techniques

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,806

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung, Universität Kassel