| Abstract [eng] |
Miniaturization of devices and increase in their functionality stimulates the demand of innovative components, capable to control the light propagation at the micrometer scale. The latter elements are known as microoptical components and are defined as optical elements that are between a few micrometers and a millimeter in size. Since 1980s various material processing techniques were employed for the manufacturing of microoptical components. Yet, not everything can be done with classical techniques, but the technologies evolve and make it possible to realize new ideas. One of such techniques is a direct laser writing based on non-linear interaction between laser irradiation and light sensitive materials (polymers). This technology, introduced two decades ago in 1997, offers unique possibilities for fabrication three-dimensional microstructures in a single step with lateral and axial features sizes below the diffraction limit. The aim of this work is to investigate the experimental possibility to manufacture singular (conical microlenses and spiral phase plates) and gradient refractive index microoptical elements via direct laser writing technique and to employ these components for the generation of optical vortices and zero and higher-order Gaussian and Bessel beams. Besides, optical (laser-induced damage threshold, refractive index) and chemical (degree of conversion) properties of the polymer, used within this work for the fabrication, are studied. |
