Method for Antireflection in Binary and Multi-Level Diffractive Elements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing or eliminating reflection at the interface between a binary or multi-level diffractive element and a surrounding medium. A non-planar diffractive surface of a diffractive optical element is coated forming a plurality of nanostructures on the non-planar diffractive surface and, in certain embodiments, on a planar surface as well. The nanostructures are chosen for providing adiabatic refractive index matching at the optical interface between the non-planar diffractive surface and a surrounding medium subject to matching tangential fields at surface discontinuities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.