title: Diffractive optics development using a modified stack-and-draw technique.
abstract: We present a novel method for the development of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Unlike standard surface relief DOEs, the phase shift is introduced through a refractive index variation achieved by using different types of glass. For the fabrication of DOEs we use a modified stack-and-draw technique, originally developed for the fabrication of photonic crystal fibers, resulting in a completely flat element that is easy to integrate with other optical components. A proof-of-concept demonstration of the method is presented-a two-dimensional binary optical phase grating in the form of a square chessboard with a pixel size of 5 μm. Two types of glass are used: low refractive index silicate glass NC21 and high refractive index lead-silicate glass F2. The measured diffraction characteristics of the fabricated component are presented and it is shown numerically and experimentally that such a DOE can be used as a fiber interconnector that couples light from a small-core fiber into the several cores of a multicore fiber.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pniewski
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kasztelanic
authors.forename: Jedrzej M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nowosielski
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filipkowski
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piechal
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Waddie
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pysz
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kujawa
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Taghizadeh
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buczynski