Optical Properties of a Bio-Inspired Gradient Refractive Index Polymer Lens

Abstract

The design, fabrication, and properties of one of a new class of gradient-index lenses are reported. The lens is an f/2.25 GRIN singlet based on a nanolayered polymer composite material, designed to correct for spherical aberration. The light gathering and focusing properties of the polymer lens are compared to a homogeneous BK7 glass singlet with a similar f-number. The modulation transfer function of the polymer GRIN lens exceeded that of the homogeneous glass lens at all spatial frequencies and was as much as 3 times better at 5 cyc/mm. The weight of the polymer lens was approximately an order of magnitude less than the homogeneous glass lens.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 21, 2008
Accession Number
ADA512970

Entities

People

  • A. Hiltner
  • A. R. Kamdar
  • A. Rosenberg
  • E. Baer
  • E. Fleet
  • G. Beadie
  • James S. Shirk
  • M. Ponting
  • Paul A. Lane
  • T. Kazmierczak
  • Yaping Yang
  • Yu Jin

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alkenes
  • Composite Materials
  • Eye
  • Fabrication
  • Films
  • Fish
  • Frequency
  • Gradient-Index Lenses
  • Laser Beams
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Military Research
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Polymeric Films
  • Polymers
  • Refractive Index

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.