Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible
Abstract Compact visible wavelength achromats are essential for miniaturized and lightweight optics. However, fabrication of such achromats has proved to be exceptionally challenging. Here, using subsurface 3D printing inside mesoporous hosts we densely integrate aligned refractive and diffractive e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38858-y |
| _version_ | 1797811445353676800 |
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| author | Corey A. Richards Christian R. Ocier Dajie Xie Haibo Gao Taylor Robertson Lynford L. Goddard Rasmus E. Christiansen David G. Cahill Paul V. Braun |
| author_facet | Corey A. Richards Christian R. Ocier Dajie Xie Haibo Gao Taylor Robertson Lynford L. Goddard Rasmus E. Christiansen David G. Cahill Paul V. Braun |
| author_sort | Corey A. Richards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Compact visible wavelength achromats are essential for miniaturized and lightweight optics. However, fabrication of such achromats has proved to be exceptionally challenging. Here, using subsurface 3D printing inside mesoporous hosts we densely integrate aligned refractive and diffractive elements, forming thin high performance hybrid achromatic imaging micro-optics. Focusing efficiencies of 51–70% are achieved for 15μm thick, 90μm diameter, 0.3 numerical aperture microlenses. Chromatic focal length errors of less than 3% allow these microlenses to form high-quality images under broadband illumination (400–700 nm). Numerical apertures upwards of 0.47 are also achieved at the cost of some focusing efficiency, demonstrating the flexibility of this approach. Furthermore, larger area images are reconstructed from an array of hybrid achromatic microlenses, laying the groundwork for achromatic light-field imagers and displays. The presented approach precisely combines optical components within 3D space to achieve thin lens systems with high focusing efficiencies, high numerical apertures, and low chromatic focusing errors, providing a pathway towards achromatic micro-optical systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:22:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb671b63c3a044b5ab7d3015a2f6c2f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:22:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb671b63c3a044b5ab7d3015a2f6c2f32023-06-04T11:33:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-05-0114111110.1038/s41467-023-38858-yHybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visibleCorey A. Richards0Christian R. Ocier1Dajie Xie2Haibo Gao3Taylor Robertson4Lynford L. Goddard5Rasmus E. Christiansen6David G. Cahill7Paul V. Braun8Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAnsys IncBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of DenmarkDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Compact visible wavelength achromats are essential for miniaturized and lightweight optics. However, fabrication of such achromats has proved to be exceptionally challenging. Here, using subsurface 3D printing inside mesoporous hosts we densely integrate aligned refractive and diffractive elements, forming thin high performance hybrid achromatic imaging micro-optics. Focusing efficiencies of 51–70% are achieved for 15μm thick, 90μm diameter, 0.3 numerical aperture microlenses. Chromatic focal length errors of less than 3% allow these microlenses to form high-quality images under broadband illumination (400–700 nm). Numerical apertures upwards of 0.47 are also achieved at the cost of some focusing efficiency, demonstrating the flexibility of this approach. Furthermore, larger area images are reconstructed from an array of hybrid achromatic microlenses, laying the groundwork for achromatic light-field imagers and displays. The presented approach precisely combines optical components within 3D space to achieve thin lens systems with high focusing efficiencies, high numerical apertures, and low chromatic focusing errors, providing a pathway towards achromatic micro-optical systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38858-y |
| spellingShingle | Corey A. Richards Christian R. Ocier Dajie Xie Haibo Gao Taylor Robertson Lynford L. Goddard Rasmus E. Christiansen David G. Cahill Paul V. Braun Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible Nature Communications |
| title | Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| title_full | Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| title_fullStr | Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| title_short | Hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| title_sort | hybrid achromatic microlenses with high numerical apertures and focusing efficiencies across the visible |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38858-y |
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