TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Thin planar optical components generated with substrate-engraved metasurfaces

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its method to generate thin planar optical components by patterning their index of refraction with substrate-engraved metasurfaces.

Background:

There is a general need for thin optics for high power laser systems as it is best to minimize light propagation through the bulk medium to reduce the risk of laser damage. Metaoptics, or components in which the optical properties are controlled by subwavelength features decorating the surface of the optic rather than the material composition of the optic itself, can be used for thin lens fabrication, aberration correction, specialized gratings, and more generally flat 'freeform' optics.

Description:

This LLNL invention concerns a method for patterning the index of refraction by fabricating a spatially invariant metasurface, and then apply spatially varied mechanical loading to compress the metasurface features vertically and spread them radially. In doing so, the index of refraction can be re-written on the metasurface, thus enabling index patterning. This process allows rapid 'rewriting' of the index on large aperture optics to generate metaoptics that benefit from the monolithic substrate-engraved features for high laser durability.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Allows meta-surface engraving of a wider variety of optical substrates, not just fused silica.
• Allows for the arbitrary tailoring of the refractive index profile of a substrate surface layer down to the micron level.
• Featuring the high damage threshold of the intrinsic substrate material.
• Resulting refractive index pattern can be wavelength and angle insensitive (unlike thin film multi-layer dielectric solutions).
• Resulting surface texture is ultra-hydrophobic and is in principle self-cleaning.
• Produces arbitrarily large, but thin, lightweight optical elements.

Potential Applications: 

High power laser systems for industrial and/or scientific applications

Exotic multilayer optics and patternable refractive index optical materials for compact but highly functional AR/VR lens elements and other ancillary optical and display technologies

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 2 - 3

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2023/0204820 System and Method for Using Mechanical Loading to Create Spatially Patterned Meta Surfaces for Optical Components published 6/29/2023

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's thin planar optical components generated with substrate-engraved metasurfaces should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's thin planar optical components generated with substrate-engraved metasurfaces.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13545