Advanced gradient-index lens design tools to maximize system performance and reduce SWaP

Sawyer D. Campbell, Jogender Nagar, Donovan E. Brocker, John A. Easum, Jeremiah P. Turpin, Douglas H. Werner

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

GRadient-INdex (GRIN) lenses have long been of interest due to their potential for providing levels of performance unachievable with traditional homogeneous lenses. While historically limited by a lack of suitable materials, rapid advancements in manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing, have recently kindled a renewed interest in GRIN optics. Further increasing the desire for GRIN devices has been the advent of Transformation Optics (TO), which provides the mathematical framework for representing the behavior of electromagnetic radiation in a given geometry by "transforming" it to an alternative, usually more desirable, geometry through an appropriate mapping of the constituent material parameters. Using TO, aspherical lenses can be transformed to simpler spherical and flat geometries or even rotationally-asymmetric shapes which result in true 3D GRIN profiles. Meanwhile, there is a critical lack of suitable design tools which can effectively evaluate the optical wave propagation through 3D GRIN profiles produced by TO. Current modeling software packages for optical lens systems also lack advanced multi-objective global optimization capability which allows the user to explicitly view the trade-offs between all design objectives such as focus quality, FOV, and focal drift due to chromatic aberrations. When coupled with advanced design methodologies such as TO, wavefront matching (WFM), and analytical achromatic GRIN theory, these tools provide a powerful framework for maximizing SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) reduction in GRIN-enabled optical systems. We provide an overview of our advanced GRIN design tools and examples which minimize the presence of mono- and polychromatic aberrations in the context of reducing SWaP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvanced Optics for Defense Applications
Subtitle of host publicationUV through LWIR
EditorsPeter L. Marasco, Bjorn F. Andresen, Jay N. Vizgaitis, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Miguel P. Snyder
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510600638
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
EventAdvanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR - Baltimore, United States
Duration: Apr 17 2016Apr 19 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9822
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherAdvanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period4/17/164/19/16

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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