Almost achromatic off-axis deterministic diffusers are flexible micro-optical elements that can produce arbitrary light distributions. They can, for example, increase the efficiency of projection systems when used as screens. These… Click to show full abstract
Almost achromatic off-axis deterministic diffusers are flexible micro-optical elements that can produce arbitrary light distributions. They can, for example, increase the efficiency of projection systems when used as screens. These elements still pose a challenge in both design and manufacturing due to the often occurring necessity of a tessellated surface. We estimate the element depth necessary to achieve achromatic behavior using a blazed grating as a substitute model. We then show the design of a tessellated, deep diffuser using an algorithm published by Brenner [Opt. Lett.25, 31 (2000)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.25.000031]. To further enhance the diffraction efficiency under manufacturing constraints, we introduce a modification that preserves the tessellation edges during design. We show that the modified algorithm yields an increase in efficiency and demonstrate the quasi-achromatic behavior of the resulting height profile.
               
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