Gradient Index Lenses

Holographic photopolymers were developed, as the name implies, for holography.  However, they can be programmed with a variety of gradient index (GRIN) structures including diffractive and refractive lenses.  The polymers self develop in respnse to light, enabling complex 3D GRIN structure not possible with traditional processes that rely on diffusion.  We have created a number of specialized exposure systems operating from the micron to the 10 mm scale to implenent unusual optical functions, correct for aberrations or fabricate arbitrary arrays.  The polymers can be cast on to other optical components and are naturally soft, creating opportunities for in vivo medical imaging.

The team

Learn more

• A.C. Urness, K. Anderson, W. L. Wilson and R. R. McLeod, Arbitrary GRIN component fabrication in optically driven diffusive photopolymers, Optics Express 23, pp. 264–273, 2015.
• C. Ye, R. R. McLeod, GRIN lens and lens array fabrication with diffusion-driven photopolymer, Optics Letters 33, 2575-2577, 2008.
• Chunfang Ye, Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, Three-dimensional Gradient Index Optics Fabricated in Diffusive Photopolymers , University of Colorado, 2012

This work has been generously funded by