Structural body, a method for forming a structural body and an apparatus for forming a structural body

Abstract

Decoration of a material is enabled with a high degree of recycling properties while satisfying the requirements for putting a structural color into practical use on the industrial scale. Furthermore, whether an object is genuine or not can be verified easily, and reusing by peeling as in the case of a hologram seal is prevented. A structural body 10 has a configuration in which a periodic structure 15 causing optical diffraction is formed on part or the whole of the surface of the substrate 11.

1 . A structural body, wherein the periodic structure causing optical diffraction is formed on part or the whole of the surface of a substrate. 
     
     
         2 . The structural body according to  claim 1 , wherein the periodic structure formed on the surface of the substrate has a regular arrangement which develops a structural color. 
     
     
         3 . The structural body according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a protective layer for protecting the periodic structure formed on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The structural body according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the periodic structure on the surface of the substrate is formed by light irradiation. 
     
     
         5 . The structural body according to  claim 4 , wherein the periodic structure on the surface of the substrate is formed by light irradiation which generates a periodic intensity distribution. 
     
     
         6 . A method for forming a structural body which comprises irradiating a substrate with light having a wavelength within a wavelength region which allows the substrate to show opacity to cause optical diffraction on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method for forming a structural body according to  claim 6 , wherein the light to be irradiated to the substrate has a periodic intensity distribution. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for forming a structural body for irradiating the substrate with light, which comprises a laser oscillator for adjusting irradiation pulse number and/or laser output such that a periodic structure causing optical diffraction is formed on the surface of the substrate.