Hybrid Freeform Diffractive Nanostructured Optics

Next-generation optical instruments demand optics with enhanced multifunctionality and increased degrees of freedom to meet greater demands in their performance. These instruments incorporate diffractive, freeforms and hybrid optical surfaces. The integration of nanostructured hybrid elements in an optical system provides opportunities for numerous improvements in the performance in diverse applications. In the last decade, there have been technological advances in precision optical technologies whereby new design, manufacturing, and metrology approaches tailored for such optics are developed.

This talk will focus mainly on design strategies, fabrication processes, and metrology schemes implemented to realize freeform and nanostructured hybrid optics. The strengths and limitations of the existing manufacturing and metrology techniques will be discussed by taking some practical case studies.

Subject Matter Level: Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• Freeform optics fabrication and metrology
• Fabrication and characterisation of nanostructured optics
• CGHs for Metrology/alignment

Who Should Attend:
• Optical engineers, designers, and researchers working on next-generation instruments (such as space telescopes, AR/VR, or medical devices) who need to integrate freeform or hybrid optics into their systems.
• General audience with an interest in optical fabrication and metrology.
• Precision manufacturing and metrology specialists looking for practical insights into the fabrication, testing, and limitations of complex optical surfaces.

About the Presenter: Gufran Sayeed Khan from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Gufran Sayeed Khan is a Professor in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, India. He earned his PhD in optical engineering from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, in ultra-precision fabrication and testing of aspheric optics. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC), NASA, Huntsville, USA, and focused on fabrication, characterisation, and assembly challenges in large-size optics for X-ray missions. He has been working in the area of optical engineering for more than 20 years. The research areas of interest include ultra-precision machining and optical metrology with a particular focus on the development of diffractive, aspheric and freeform and structured-freeform optics for defence, space and industrial applications.