Design and characterization of an infrared Alvarez lens

Smilie, Paul J.; Dutterer, Brian S.; Lineberger, Jennifer L.; Davies, Matthew A.; Suleski, Thomas J.

doi:doi:10.1117/1.OE.51.1.013006

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Optical Engineering / Volume 51 / Issue 1 / Optical System Design

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Design and characterization of an infrared Alvarez lens

Opt. Eng. 51, 013006 (Jan 31, 2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.1.013006

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Abstract

References (30)

Citing Articles (140)

Paul J. Smilie and Thomas J. Suleski

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Physics and Optical Science, Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223

Brian S. Dutterer, Jennifer L. Lineberger, and Matthew A. Davies

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Precision Metrology, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223

While Alvarez lens prototypes have recently been manufactured and tested for visible wavelengths, there is little discussion of these types of components for infrared applications in the published literature. We present and characterize a germanium Alvarez lens for infrared imaging. Mathematical analysis for determining the required cubic surfaces is presented, and ray-based and wave-based optical simulations are performed to confirm and refine the expected variable-focus behavior. As part of the design study, we examine the effects of effective f-number of the Alvarez lens and gap between the freeform surfaces on image quality, modulation transfer function, and Strehl ratio. The germanium Alvarez lens pair is fabricated through freeform diamond micro-milling, and characterized using a custom-built imaging test station in the mid-infrared. The variable-focus and imaging capabilities of this lens are demonstrated experimentally and compared to predicted results with good agreement.

History

Received Sep 10, 2011
Revised Nov 21, 2011
Published online Jan 31, 2012

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.1.013006

Citation

Paul J. Smilie, Brian S. Dutterer, Jennifer L. Lineberger, Matthew A. Davies and Thomas J. Suleski, "Design and characterization of an infrared Alvarez lens", Opt. Eng. 51, 013006 (Jan 31, 2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.1.013006