摘要 |
A switchable optical element having an optical path (OP) for a radiation beam and having a first state and a second state, the element comprising: a first fluid (12) and a second, different, fluid (14) which are immiscible and which are separated from each other by a fluid meniscus (16); a first, transparent, wall part and a second, transparent, wall part spaced from each other along the optical path; and a fluid switching system which is arranged to apply forces to the first and/or the second fluid in order to switch the element between the first and the second state. The first wall part includes a non-planar wavefront modifier (28), and wherein the fluid switching system is arranged to apply the forces so that when the element is in the first state, the first wall part is covered by the first fluid (12); and when the element is in the second state, the first wall part is covered by the second fluid (14). The switchable optical element is characterised in that the fluid switching system is arranged to switch between the first state and the second state such that when the element is in the first state the second wall part is covered by the second fluid, and when the element is in the second state the second wall part is covered by the first fluid. When the element is in both the first state and the second state, at least part of the fluid meniscus (16) is located on the optical path.
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