Self-developing photopolymer for the fabrication of relief micro-optical elements

The use of photopolymer films to record information by optical methods is described. The final result in such thin polymer films is its surface modulation that develops under the sole action of light and does not require any chemical treatment. The relief generating process permits the fabrication of diffractive and refractive optical elements that work in transmission or in reflexion. This last mode is achieved when a metal thin film is overcoated on its surface. Low spatial frequency gratings, microlenses and micromirrors were made. Several diffractive elements using computer generated holograms were also fabricated.