The Diffractive Beam Splitter is a diffractive optical element used to split a single laser beam into several beams, each with the characteristics of the original beam (except for its power and angle of propagation).
A diffractive beam splitter can generate either a 1-dimensional beam array (1xN) or a 2-dimensional beam matrix (MxN), depending on the diffractive pattern on the element. The diffractive beam splitter is used with monochromatic light such as a laser beam, and is designed for a specific wavelength and angle of separation between its output beams.
Typical applications include:
- Laser scribing such as in solar cells or panels
- Laser dicing
- Laser displays
- Filters for cigarettes
- Medical/aesthetic applications such as skin treatment
- 3-D sensors
- Fiber optics