Hisao KIKUTA^*, Hiroshi TOYOTA¹ and Wanji YU¹

Graduated School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan
¹Osaka Science and Technology Center, 2-7-1, Ayumino, Izumi, Osaka 594-1157, Japan

(Received January 14, 2003; Accepted January 21, 2003)

Various optical elements with subwavelength structured surfaces have been developed. The periods of the subwavelength structures are too short to generate diffracted light waves. But the structures are equivalent to refractive index materials with form birefringence. Many new optical elements are realized using the artificial refractive indices of these subwavelength structures. Some typical elements are described here in the passive element regime, and fabrication methods of the elements are explained.

Key words: subwavelength gratings, SWS, effective medium theory, form birefringence, antireflection structure, moth-eye, polarization elements, optical filter

^*E-mail address: kikuta@mecha.osakafu-u.ac.jp