TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Birefringent Waveplate and Method for Forming a Waveplate Having a Birefringent Metasurface

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 Birefringent Waveplate and Method for Forming a Waveplate Having a Birefringent Metasurface technology. Background: High damage threshold birefringent optical elements (e.g. waveplates) are particularly difficult to fabricate especially with arbitrarily tailored micron-scale spatial profiles. Traditionally these kinds of optical elements have required use of special materials that are often not available in either the size or the quality required. Description: This novel invention specifically enables the fabrication of arbitrarily tailored birefringence characteristics in nano-structured meta-surfaces on non-birefringent substrates (e.g. fused silica). The birefringent nano-structured meta-surface is produced by angled directional reactive ion beam etching through a nano-particle mask. This method enables the simultaneous tailoring of refractive index of the meta-surface layer as well as its birefringence. Advantages/Benefits: Enables the arbitrary tailoring of the refractive index and birefringence profile of a non-birefringent substrate surface layer down to the micron level. Enables the simultaneous tailoring of antireflection and birefringence properties. Features 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. Ability to produce arbitrarily large, but lightweight optical elements. Flexibility to pattern planar and non-planar surfaces. Potential Applications: High power laser systems for industrial applications High energy lasers systems for scientific applications Development Status: Current stage of technology development: TRL 2-3 LLNL has patent(s) on this invention. U.S. Patent No. 11,747,639 Birefringent Waveplate and Method for Forming a Waveplate Having a Birefringent Metasurface published 9/5/2023 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 Birefringent Waveplate and Method for Forming a Waveplate Having a Birefringent Metasurface technology should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 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 Birefringent Waveplate and Method for Forming a Waveplate Having a Birefringent Metasurface technology. 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-13340