Optical glass and optical design: Otto Schott´s role in the entangled development

Abstract

Meeting the stringent requirements of optical design has been the task of material developers for centuries. Preventing simple solutions, however, are the fundamental limitations to the performance of optical materials following the Kramers-Kronig-relations of solid state physics. To achieve optimum optical performance, an entanglement between optical designers and material developers has occurred. This entanglement has led to suitable multi-lens designs that push optical materials to their limits. Herein is a contribution that reviews pioneering work in optical material development, the role of Otto Schott and the intricate entanglement of optical design and optical materials.