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

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.

Optically Clear and Resilient Free-Form µ-Optics 3D-Printed via Ultrafast Laser Lithography

“…Since the sol-gel route is open to mixing different oxide precursors and concentrations, this opens up the capability of creating the different refractive index PI-free optical elements required for aberration control in multi-component lens optical systems [44,59,60,61]. With pyrolysis, an even larger range of refractive index tunability is accessible.…”

Combining in-situ lithography with 3D printed solid immersion lenses for single quantum dot spectroscopy

“…In the second fabrication step, a commercially available Nanoscribe 3D laser writer is used. The sample is first drop coated with resist, which is exposed to the desired hemispherical geometry with submicrometric writing resolution27. An example of the final structure is shown in the microscope picture in Fig.…”

Optically Clear and Resilient Free-Form <em>&micro;</em>-Optics 3D-Printed via Ultrafast Laser Lithography

“…To date, only direct laser writing based 3DLL was shown to be capable of true 3D manufacture at the microscale. This additive manufacturing technique [35] combines a complete freedom of architecture of produced structures [36], possibility to integrate it on various substrates [37][38][39] and a large range of materials that can be processed in such fashion [40]. Here we have shown that structures produced out of zirconium containing photopolymer SZ2080 can withstand a relatively low intensity I = 86.6 W/cm 2 short wavelength exposure for prolonged time periods.…”

“…Composition control of sol-gel resists via different portions of organic and inorganic components provides a tool to tune refractive index and to create complex micro-optical elements for high quality optical imaging as compared with only shape control of composite lenses [38]. With pyrolysis, an even larger range of refractive index tunability is accessible.…”