title: Rapid fabrication of on-demand high-resolution optical masks with a CD-DVD pickup unit.
abstract: A low-cost, direct fabrication technique with a micrometer range resolution has been implemented for rapid prototyping of optical masks for photolithography and structured light and diffraction optics applications. Using a setup based on the optical unit of a compact disc-digital versatile disc burner, a low-energy infrared laser beam was focused on a thin polymeric layer with embedded absorbing carbon nanopowder coated on a transparent glass substrate. This allowed for the generation of a custom-made transparent pattern in a computer numerical control fashion. In addition to its great simplicity and repeatability, the method also enables grayscale contrasts for each pixel individually, and fabricated masks proved to resist high intensities.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabriales
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hautefeuille
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Velázquez
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grether
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Moreno