Two-Dimensional Electrowetting Array for Optical Wavefront Control
Abstract
The University of Colorado will develop an innovative two-dimensional individually addressable electrowetting lens array for optical wavefront control. These capabilities are important for many types of optical systems, including imaging, communications, sensing, spectroscopy, and LIDAR. The two-dimensional array will be fabricated leveraging standard micro- and nanofabrication techniques that will enable individually addressable devices. The tunable two-dimensional array is based on the electrowetting-on-dielectric principle (EWOD), in which voltage can be used to control the curvature and tilt of the interface between two liquids. The array format will mean that the wavefront can be split up into pixels that are fine enough to enable effective wavefront shaping with only liquid-interface curvature (implementing piston or phase control). This will lead to a significant technological advance ~ a two-dimensional array of electrowetting devices on a chip for complete wavefront control. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is a two-dimensional chip-scale electrowetting array that is individually addressable and is suitable for aberration correction in transmissive optical systems. The research has the potential to improve optical systems critical to Navy operations: communication, imaging, and topographical mapping.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012087
Entities
People
- Juliet T. Gopinath
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Regents of the University of Colorado
- United States Navy