Multilayer optic device and system and method for making same

Abstract

An optic device, system and method for making are described. The optic device includes a first solid phase layer having a first index of refraction with a first photon transmission property and a second solid phase layer having a second index of refraction with a second photon transmission property. The first and second layers are conformal to each other. The optic device may be fabricated by vapor depositing a first layer and then vapor depositing a second layer thereupon. The first layer may be deposited onto a blank or substrate. The blank or substrate may be rotated during deposition. Further, a computer-controlled shutter may be used to alter the deposition rate of material along an axis of the optic device. Alternatively, the optic device may be moved at varying speeds through a vapor stream to alter the deposition rate of material.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . An optic device for transmitting photons through total internal reflection, comprising:
 a core having an arcuate portion; and   at least two conformal solid phase layers, wherein interfaces between the solid phase layers are gapless, the at least two conformal solid phase layers including:
 at least one photon redirection region being formed to redirect the photons into a quasi-parallel beam, a slightly focused beam, a highly focused beam, a slightly diverging beam, a highly diverging beam, or a beam with a curved transverse profile; 
   wherein the at least one photon redirection region is curved around the arcuate portion of the core.   
   
   
       52 . The optic device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least two solid phase layers comprise alternating indices of refraction. 
   
   
       53 . The optic device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least two solid phase layers are comprised of two or more materials. 
   
   
       54 . The optic device of  claim 51 , comprising an input face for receiving the photons and an output face through which the photons exit the optic device. 
   
   
       55 . The optic device of  claim 54 , configured to transmit photons with energies above 1 keV. 
   
   
       56 . The optic device of  claim 54 , wherein said input face is adapted for an angular acceptance range of about 0 steradians up to about 2π steradians of a solid angle of a source of the photons. 
   
   
       57 . The optic device of  claim 51 , wherein an interface between the core and one of the at least two conformal solid phase layers is gapless. 
   
   
       58 . An optic device for redirecting, through total internal reflection, photons having an energy above one keV, comprising:
 a core having an arcuate portion;   a first solid phase layer having a first index of refraction; and   a second solid phase layer having a second index of refraction;   wherein the first and second solid phase layers are curved around the arcuate portion of the core.   
   
   
       59 . A method for forming an optic device, comprising:
 forming a first set of one or more solid phase layers each in a single plane, with the one or more layers characterized by one or more indices of refraction;   curving the first set of one or more solid phases layer around an arcuate portion of a core;   wherein between the core and the solid phase layers is at least one photon redirection region.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , comprising forming a second set of one or more solid phase layers on the first set of one or more solid phase layers, wherein the first and second sets of one or more solid phase layers are each characterized by one or more indices of refraction. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the forming comprises vapor depositing, thermal spray depositing, or electroplating. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising altering a forming rate of the forming. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the altering comprises moving a source of deposition material or the core relative to each other. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the altering comprises:
 providing a shutter; and   moving the shutter along an axis of the core at a changing velocity.   
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , comprising rotating or oscillating the core during the forming steps. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the core serves as a mold and is removable from a formed optic device. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the mold comprises a cone-shaped core and wherein the curving step comprises curving the first solid phase layer at least partially around the core. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 59 , comprising abutting a diffracting crystal against either an input face or an output face of a formed optic device. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the curving a first solid phase layer comprises forming the first solid phase layer in a single plane and then curving the first solid phase layer around the arcuate portion of a core.