An analytical study of thermal invariance of polymeric nanolayer gradient index optical components

Howard Fein; Michael Ponting

doi:10.1117/12.2222886

17 May 2016 An analytical study of thermal invariance of polymeric nanolayer gradient index optical components

Howard Fein, Michael Ponting

Proceedings Volume 9822, Advanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR; 98220X (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2222886
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2016, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

Specially formulated Gradient-Index polymeric optical materials offer capabilities not possible in conventional GRIN or homogenous optics. A novel technology that enables large scale processing of nanolayered polymer films into real, performance-enhancing lenses and other optical components for Defense-related optical systems is currently being employed. Polymeric nanoLayer GRIN materials (LGRIN) offer the ability to design and fabricate optics with custom gradient refractive index profiles in optical components up to 90 mm in diameter and approaching 5 cm thick. High performance achromatic singlet lenses were designed using specially developed ZEMAX design tools and exceptionally high quality lenses were fabricated from the LGRIN materials. Optical performance of LGRIN optics is shown to be significantly better than with conventional monolithic optics while also significantly reducing optical system mass, volume, and optical element count. Understanding the thermal behavior of such optical components is essential to their operational capability. An experimental study of the effects of elevated operational environments to validate the feasibility of deploying LGRIN optics into real-world operational environments was carried out. Interferometric and physical measurements of structure and optical performance of LGRIN lenses was completed over a 30° - 50°C temperature range. It is shown that nanolayered LGRIN optics and components exhibit no significant variation in optical performance with temperature as compared with commercial, homogenous acrylic optics in the designed operational thermal range.

Citation Download Citation

Howard Fein and Michael Ponting "An analytical study of thermal invariance of polymeric nanolayer gradient index optical components", Proc. SPIE 9822, Advanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR, 98220X (17 May 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2222886

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