Design and simulation of diffractive optical components in fast optical imaging systems

Recent lithographic technologies allow for the fabrication of high period diffractive structures on planar and curved optical surfaces with high precision. Such diffractive surfaces offer the optical designer extra degrees of freedom, which are of special importance for optical systems, where light collection efficiency is important. We illustrate the usage and benefit of diffractive elements within fast optical systems in various applications. For these hybrid design classes it is mandatory to include the realistic as-built performance of the employed diffractive elements into the design phase. Correspondingly we present simulation techniques to include fabrication specific diffraction efficiencies and stray light into the optimization and evaluation process.