In this Letter, we propose a simple and effective approach for transforming a conventional Talbot array illuminator (TAI) with multilevel phase steps into a binary-phase TAI (BP-TAI) through detour phase encoding. The BP-TAI is a binary (0 π) phase-only diffractive optical element, which can be utilized to generate a large-scale focal spots array with a high compression ratio. As an example, we design a square BP-TAI with the fraction parameter β = 15 for achieving a square multifocal lattice with a high compression ratio β². Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the detour phase encoding is efficient for designing the BP-TAI, especially with the high compression ratio. Such results may be exploited in practical large-scale optical trapping and X-ray imaging.

The full aperture complex amplitude transmittance function of a multi-level diffraction lens with mask-alignment errors was derived based on scalar diffraction theory. The point spread function (PSF) was calculated by the Kirchhoff diffraction integral. It is found that the radius of the Airy disk increases with the increase of the error in the direction of misalignment, and the image center shifts along the direction of misalignment. A four-level diffractive lens with a diameter of 80 mm was fabricated, and its PSF and diffraction efficiency of +1st order were calculated and measured. The distribution of PSF is consistent with the calculated results, and the tested diffraction efficiency is slightly smaller than the calculated value; the relative error is 5.71%.

Diffractive optics is an important technique for beam shaping with high light efficiency and strong diffraction pattern flexibility. Since the diffraction angle is limited by the unit size of the diffractive optical element (DOE), the size of the required diffraction pattern is always rather small. In this Letter, refractive/diffractive hybrid optical elements (RDHOEs) consisting of a DOE and a lens are used to realize beam shaping for a large diffraction pattern. The lens, as the component of the RDHOEs, can not only be concave but also convex, and the double sampling Fresnel diffraction algorithm is developed for the design of these two types of RDHOEs. The simulation and experimental results provide solid evidence to demonstrate the proposed method with the pure phase spatial light modulator.

A spatially variable retardation device, an SQWP, is designed to generate polarization vortex beams. The transformation of Laguerre–Gaussian beams by the SQWP is further studied, and it is found that the SQWPs can also be used to generate helical beams and measure the topological charges of helical beams.

To reduce the cost and achieve high diffraction efficiency, a modified moiré technique for fabricating a large-aperture multi-level Fresnel membrane optic by a novel design of alignment marks is proposed. The modified moiré fringes vary more sensitively with the actual misalignment. Hence, the alignment accuracy is significantly improved. Using the proposed method, a 20 μm thick, four-level Fresnel diffractive polyimide membrane optic with a 200 mm diameter is made, which exhibits over 62% diffraction efficiency into the +1 order, and an efficiency root mean square of 0.051.