Intentionally Buckled Columns and Columns with Displacement Controls that Form Optical Shapes

摘要

Described herein are buckled structures useful for forming specific and precise optical shapes. For example, buckled structures are disclosed which have parabolic, near-parabolic, cylindrical, near cylindrical, conic section shapes, arcs and other non-sinusoidal optical curves. Also described herein are buckled structures including one or more restraints for forcing the structures to adopt or maintain specific optical shapes upon or after buckling. In another aspect, provided herein are methods for forming optical structures.