This project involves using mathematical models to optimize the performance of a diffractive optical element. Unlike the usual optimization problem, we will seek methods for finding an optimal design in the presence of environmental variability. Sources of variability can include changes in manufacturing or operating conditions. The methods will be applied to designing a diffractive optical ele...

We introduce a programmable diffractive optical element based on an electro-optic phased array implemented with a multichannel lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate phase modulator. The design and fabrication procedures are outlined, along with an experimental demonstration of the device. Experimental results from a 16-channel device operating with a 2pi ; voltage of 300 V demonstrate sele...

We describe the concept of a super compact diffractive imaging spectrometer, with optical components a few millimeters across in all dimensions, capable of detecting optical fluorescence spectra within the entire visible spectral range from 400 nm to 700 nm with resolution of the order of 2 nm. In addition, the proposed spectrometer is capable of working simultaneously with multiple, up to 35, ...

We propose to model hybrid optical systems (i.e., lenses with conventional and diffractive optical elements) as multiaperture systems in which the images formed by each zone of the diffractive optical element should be summed up coherently. This new zone decomposition concept is explained and compared with the standard diffraction-order expansion with the help of a hybrid triplet example.

Fizeau interferometers with an additional diffractive optical element are frequently used for measuring spherical and aspherical surfaces. We present a new (to our knowledge) optical test method, in which the Fizeau principle is now perfectly fulfilled by generating reference and measuring wavefront on the last optical surface, which carries a diffractive optical element. This method has been e...

First-order and multi-order diffractive lenses are implemented using a LCoS modulator with 8π-phase modulation range for a 514nm operation wavelength. Their performance is compared in terms of energy efficiency in the first and zero order diffractive planes. The influence of the display calibration is evaluated for each phase modulation range. Keywords—diffractive optical element; spatial light...

Photopolymers can be appealing materials for diffractive optical elements fabrication. In this paper, we present the recording of diffractive lenses in PVA/AA (Polyvinyl alcohol acrylamide) based photopolymers using a liquid crystal device as a master. In addition, we study the viability of using a diffusion model to simulate the lens formation in the material and to study the influence of the ...

Diffractive optical elements suffer from large chromatic aberration due to the strong wavelength-dependent nature in diffraction phenomena, and therefore, diffractive elements can work only at a single designed wavelength, which significantly limits the applications of diffractive elements in imaging. Here, we report on a demonstration of a wavefront coded broadband achromatic imaging with diff...

Design procedures for simple two- and three-element diffractive telescopes, suitable for monochromatic applications, are described. We obtained the basic configuration for the two-element design analytically by solving design equations to set the Seidel aberrations to target values. Computer optimization is used to complete the design of the doublet and triplet telescopes. The two- and three-el...

In this work we present experimental evidence of an anamorphic and spatial frequency dependent phase modulation in commercially available twisted nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulators. We have found that the phase modulation depth depends on the magnitude of the local spatial frequency component along the horizontal direction. Along the vertical direction the phase modulation depth do...