Abstract

We report highly efficient diffractive beam splitters intended for high-power laser applications. Submicron relief structures that work as an antireflective layer are formed on the surfaces of a splitter to improve its transmitted efficiency. Surface structuring is performed using deep-UV interference lithography and reactive ion etching. As immersed in an index-matching liquid, the resist layer coated on diffractive surfaces is exposed to the interference fringes that are set intersecting the grooves on the surfaces. Rigorously designed structures with a period of $140\mathrm{nm}$ and a depth of $55\mathrm{nm}$ are lithographed onto fused-silica splitters. Splitting efficiencies at $266\mathrm{nm}$ are increased by 8% to compare favorably with a theoretical value, while Fresnel reflections are considerably reduced.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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