Laser-induced controllable chirped-pitch circular surface-relief diffraction gratings on AZO glass

Chirped-pitch nanoscale circular surface-relief diffraction gratings were photoinscribed on thin films of a Disperse Red 1 functionalized material using a holographic technique. A truncated conical mirror splits and redirects a converging or diverging laser beam, resulting in an interference pattern of concentric circles with a chirped pitch that can be controlled by varying the wavefront curvature. The resulting circular gratings have a diameter of 12 mm and have the advantage of being produced in a fast, single-step procedure with no requirement for a master grating, photomask, or milling equipment. (C) 2015 Chinese Laser Press