Polymeric nanolayered gradient refractive index lenses: technology review and introduction of spherical gradient refractive index ball lenses

Abstract

A nanolayered polymer films approach to designing and fabricatinggradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses with designer refractive indexdistribution profiles and an independently prescribed lens surfacegeometry have been demonstrated to produce a new class of optics. Thisapproach utilized nanolayered polymer materials, constructed withpolymethylmethacrylate and a styrene-co-acrylonitrile copolymer with atailorable refractive index intermediate to bulk materials, to fabricatediscrete GRIN profile materials. A process to fabricate nanolayeredpolymer GRIN optics from these materials through thermoforming andfinishing steps is reviewed. A collection of technology-demonstratingpreviously reported nanolayered GRIN case studies is presented thatinclude: (1) the optical performance of a f/# 2.25 spherical GRINplano-convex singlet with one quarter (2) the weight of a similar BK7lens and a bio-inspired aspheric human eye GRIN lens. Original researchon the fabrication and characterization of a Luneburg inspired GRIN balllens is presented as a developing application of the nanolayered polymertechnology. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of thiswork in whole or in part requires full attribution of the originalpublication, including its DOI.