Gradient Index Lenses
Holographic photopolymers were developed, as the name implies, for holography. However, they can be programmed with a variety of gradient index (GRIN) structures including diffractive and refractive lenses. The polymers self develop in respnse to light, enabling complex 3D GRIN structure not possible with traditional processes that rely on diffusion. We have created a number of specialized exposure systems operating from the micron to the 10 mm scale to implenent unusual optical functions, correct for aberrations or fabricate arbitrary arrays. The polymers can be cast on to other optical components and are naturally soft, creating opportunities for in vivo medical imaging.
The team
- David Glugla
- Johnny Hergert
- Adam Urness
- Chunfang Ye
Learn more
- A.C. Urness, K. Anderson, W. L. Wilson and R. R. McLeod, Arbitrary GRIN component fabrication in optically driven diffusive photopolymers, Optics Express 23, pp. 264–273, 2015.
- C. Ye, R. R. McLeod, GRIN lens and lens array fabrication with diffusion-driven photopolymer, Optics Letters 33, 2575-2577, 2008.
- Chunfang Ye, Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, Three-dimensional Gradient Index Optics Fabricated in Diffusive Photopolymers , University of Colorado, 2012
This work has been generously funded by
Sample results
Quantative index measurment of a single GRIN lens obtained by scanning differential transmission microscopy. The profile is parabolic, implementing a traditional GRIN lens
Differential interference contrast micrograph of a 1 mm thick polymer GRIN lens array. Each lenslet is formed by a single exposure with an approximately quadratic light intensity. The array is formed by stepping and repeating the exposure on a precision stage.
Differential interference contrast micrograph of a GRIN Fresnel lens exposed by projecting a gray-scale image from a DMD spatial light modulator.