Diffractive Attenuators of Laser Radiation: Fabrication and Optical Characteristics
A. G. Poleshchuk, A. R. Sametov, V. V. Dontsova, R. V. Shimanskii
Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Koptyuga 1, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia
poleshchuk.a.g@iae.nsk.su
Keywords: diffraction, phase attenuators, circular diffraction gratings, variable transmission, powerful lasers
Pages: 86-95
Abstract
This paper reports on theoretical and experimental studies of a new class of zero-order diffractive elements — diffractive light attenuators with variable transmission. Results of tests of circular diffractive attenuators for wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm with amplitude and phase transmission functions are presented. Methods of fabrication of the attenuators are discussed, and the characteristics of prototype modles are considered. It is shown that phase attenuators in the form of embossed circular diffractive gratings with a period of 2 to 6 µm and a variable duty cycle are not selective to polarization and allow controlling the radiation power of pulsed (including femtosecond) and continuous lasers over a wide range (> 100 times)
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