Chromatic paraxial aberration coefficients for radial gradient-index lenses

Abstract

A simple derivation of analytic expressions for the chromatic paraxial aberration coefficients of radial gradientindex lenses is presented. By decomposing the transverse chromatic aberration vector of an arbitrary paraxial ray in contributions from refraction at the surfaces and from transfer through the inhomogeneous media of the system, remarkably short formulas for the contributions of transfer through the gradient medium to the axial and lateral color coefficients are obtained. In the thin-lens approximation these expressions lead to wellknown results for the total chromatic aberrations of a radial gradient-index lens.

Ultralow Dispersion Multicomponent Thin‐Film Chalcogenide Glass for Broadband Gradient‐Index Optics

“…Gradient refractive index (GRIN) optics present unique opportunities for control of the chromatic properties of an optical system . Novel GRIN materials can be engineered to provide dispersive properties which lie far outside those found in nature, providing new degrees of freedom for optical design as well as the potential for use in new applications . In this paper, a novel photothermal process is utilized to spatially modulate high‐index nanocrystals within a metastable chalcogenide glass thin film, composed of Ge‐As‐Pb‐Se (GAP‐Se) constituents, thereby achieving ultralow dispersion over an unprecedented bandwidth of 1–12 µm wavelength and enabling creation of an arbitrary index gradient required for GRIN optics.…”

“…When an index gradient is induced along the radial axis of an optical element, light is refracted within the volume of the component, unlike conventional homogeneous media where light is only refracted along a curved surface. By taking advantage of the additional degrees of freedom associated with volumetric focusing, it is possible to engineer a material system capable of dispersive properties that lie far outside what is found in nature, such as ultralow dispersion across a broadband spectrum, thereby greatly reducing chromatic aberration . GRIN materials are media in which the refractive index is varied as a function of spatial position, usually through a variation of material composition .…”

Monolithic Chalcogenide Optical Nanocomposites Enable Infrared System Innovation: Gradient Refractive Index Optics

“…[ 21 ] The lessons learned from nature can now be used to control the steering of light in curved trajectories through, for example, a flat lens. [ 22–25 ] The opportunities GRIN flat lenses offer increase the design space and requisite volume needed for optical elements, enabling reduced size, weight, element count, and cost, thereby extending the trade space for optical performance parameters. [ 19,24–27 ] A material manufacturing paradigm that could exploit such novel functionality will modify the way optical systems are designed and one such strategy is discussed here.…”

Achromatic nanostructured gradient index microlenses

“…In the several theoretical works the methods for development of achromatic gradient index (GRIN) lenses were also discussed [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. There are considered GRIN lenses with non-homogenous material distribution either continuously along the axis of propagation -the axial gradient refractive index (GRIN) [5][6][7] (Fig. 1(d)) or continuously as a function of distance from the optical axis in a perpendicular plane -the radial GRIN [7][8][9] (Fig.…”

“…There are considered GRIN lenses with non-homogenous material distribution either continuously along the axis of propagation -the axial gradient refractive index (GRIN) [5][6][7] (Fig. 1(d)) or continuously as a function of distance from the optical axis in a perpendicular plane -the radial GRIN [7][8][9] (Fig. 1(e)).…”