Optical component with waveguide based filter

An optical element (200) comprising:

• a layer (211) for filtering radiation by attenuating incident radiation with a frequency that is below a cutoff frequency;
• and
• a transparent element (212),
• wherein the layer (211) comprises at least one aperture (213) passing through the layer (211) to the transparent element (212) for propagating radiation therethrough,
• wherein the at least one aperture (213) is perpendicular to the plane surface of the layer (211), wherein the at least one aperture (213) has a constant cross section along the axis of the at least one aperture (213) and the cross section is symmetric,
• wherein the cross sectional size of the at least one aperture (213) is configured to provide the cutoff frequency so that radiation with a frequency below the cutoff frequency is attenuated inside the at least one aperture (213) and radiation with a frequency above the cutoff frequency propagates through the at least one aperture (213),
• wherein incident radiation that does not pass through the at least one aperture (213) is blocked from passing through the layer (211), and
• wherein an intensity of radiation that has a frequency below the cutoff frequency and that reaches the transparent element (212) is controlled by the thickness of the layer (211).