Planar gradient-index cylindrical microlenses: flexible components for laser diode applications

Rolf Goering; Torsten Possner; Peter Schreiber

doi:10.1117/12.234626

8 March 1996 Planar gradient-index cylindrical microlenses: flexible components for laser diode applications

Rolf Goering, Torsten Possner, Peter Schreiber

Proceedings Volume 2687, Miniaturized Systems with Micro-Optics and Micromechanics; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.234626
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Using the silver-sodium ion exchange process in a special optical glass, different types of gradient-index cylindrical microlenses and microlens arrays have been fabricated. High numerical aperture single cylindrical lenses are produced in thin glass slabs without any diffusion masks. Depending on the desired index profile accuracy, a two- or three-step ion exchange process is used, the maximum numerical aperture which can be achieved is about 0.6. Contrary to other lens fabrication techniques, lenses of different focal length can be produced very easily, and both focussing and diverging lenses are possible. A series of systems, combining different lenses, have been realized for anamorphotic single-mode laser diode beam transformation and high-brightness laser diode beam forming. Arrays of cylindrical lenses of moderate numerical aperture (about 0.2) have been realized by electrical field assisted ion exchange through 1D mask structures. These lens arrays have been successfully applied to multiple-stripe pulsed laser diodes for efficient reduction of the output beam divergency, thus enabling a more efficient coupling of the output power to multimode fibers.

Citation Download Citation

Rolf Goering, Torsten Possner, and Peter Schreiber "Planar gradient-index cylindrical microlenses: flexible components for laser diode applications", Proc. SPIE 2687, Miniaturized Systems with Micro-Optics and Micromechanics, (8 March 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.234626

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