LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Diamond diffraction optics for CO2 lasers

A laser ablation method for the formation of a phase microrelief on diamond optical diffraction components, intended for the far-IR range, was proposed and implemented. A one-dimensional diffraction component was made for CO₂ laser radiation (λ = 10.6 μm): it was a cylindrical lens of 4 mm×4 mm aperture and with a focal length 25 mm. Microstructuring of the surface was performed by selective ablation etching of diamond with KrF excimer laser radiation (λ = 248 nm). The distribution of the field intensity in the focal region of the lens, its depth of focus, and the diffraction efficiency were determined. A high degree of correlation was found between the experimental characteristics of the lens and the results of computer modelling.