Metrology of replicated diffractive optics with Mueller polarimetry in conical diffraction

The feasibility of metrological characterization of the one-dimensional (1D) holographic gratings, used in the nanoimprint molding tool fabrication step, by spectroscopic Mueller polarimetry in conical diffraction is investigated. The studied samples correspond to two different steps of the replicated diffraction grating fabrication process. We characterized master gratings that consist of patterned resist layer on chromium-covered glass substrate and complementary (replica) gratings made of nickel. The profiles of the gratings obtained by fitting the experimental spectra of Mueller matrix coefficients taken at different azimuthal angles were confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. The calculated profiles of corresponding master and replica gratings are found to be complementary. We conclude that the Mueller polarimetry, as a fast and non-contact optical characterization technique, can provide the basis for the metrology of the molding tool fabrication step in the nanoimprint technique.