The requirements for selecting the initial scheme for a compact plastic zoom lens are formulated. The main stages of the initial scheme of the transformation, incorporating the diffractive lens and replacement of the lenses’ glasses by optical plastics, are presented. The efficiency of the suggested techniques of the optical layout process are demonstrated by using the example of the design and analysis of a zoom lens intended for use in security cameras for day or night vision.

Design of plastic diffractive–refractive compact zoom lenses for visible–near-IR spectrum

In this paper, the effect of an environmental temperature change on multilayer diffractive optical elements (MLDOEs) is studied in terms of the diffraction efficiency and the polychromatic integral diffraction efficiency (PIDE). The relation between the diffraction efficiency of MLDOEs and environmental temperature is analyzed theoretically, and examples of different MLDOEs are discussed in the visible and infrared wavebands. The result shows that the diffraction efficiency reduction is no more than 5% and the PIDE reduction is less than 1.5% for optical plastic MLDOEs in the visible waveband when the environmental temperature ranges from −62 to 71 °C, and that the decrease of both the diffraction efficiency and PIDE for MLDOEs is more significant in the mid-wave infrared than in the long-wave infrared. The analysis result can be considered during optical engineering design with MLDOEs.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2040-8978/16/3/035707/pdf

Diffraction efficiency change of multilayer diffractive optics with environmental temperature

The effective area method is described to design high-efficiency multiplayer diffractive optical elements (MLDOEs) with finite feature sizes for wide wave band. This method is presented with consideration of the shield effect between two elements of MLDOEs, and the optimal surface relief heights of MLDOEs are calculated with the effective area method. Then the comparisons of diffraction efficiency and polychromatic integral diffraction efficiency for MLDOEs with different period widths are described and simulated with the effective area method and scalar diffraction theory (SDT). Finally, the design results of MLDOEs obtained by SDT and the effective area method are compared by a rigorous electromagnetic analysis method, specifically, the finite-difference time-domain method. These results show that the limits of SDT for MLDOEs, ascertain and quantify the greatest sources of the diffraction efficiency loss due to the shield effect. The design results of the effective area method can obtain higher polychromatic integral diffraction efficiency than that of the SDT when the period width of MLDOEs is taken into account.

Optimal design of multilayer diffractive optical elements with effective area method.

The efficiency of diffractive lenses with two-layer single-relief and three-layer double-relief microstructures is studied. Studies are carried out using the scalar and electromagnetic diffraction theories. Depending on the requirements for the diffractive lens, the theories permit one to justifiably choose the configuration, optical materials, and constructive parameters of the microstructure, as well as to determine the real maximum allowable angle of radiation incidence on the diffractive lens with the microstructure of a particular type.

Spectral and Angular Dependences of the Efficiency of Relief-Phase Diffractive Lenses with Two- and Three-Layer Microstructures

The intensity distribution on the optical axis of a parabolic binary diffraction lens is theoretically and experimentally studied. The binary diffraction lens is shown to form an array of focal spots of near-equal intensity on the optical axis. In each local focus, the focal-spot size decreases as the square of the focus number until the paraxiality condition is broken. Theory and experiment are shown to be in good agreement.

Local foci of a parabolic binary diffraction lens.

A technique and investigation results are presented on the effect of the number of Fresnel zones on the diffraction efficiency and quality of the wave front formed by a diffractive optical element. Equations are presented for the microstructure reliefs of diffractive optical elements making (regardless of the number of Fresnel zones) the wavefront shape coinciding with the calculated one and ensuring 100% diffraction efficiency at a single wavelength and, in the case of two-layer structures, almost 100% diffraction efficiency in a wide spectral range.

A. V. Kalashnikov

Papers

The efficiency of relief-phase diffractive elements at a small number of Fresnel zones

Plastic Varifocal Microobjectives Including Diffractive-Refractive Correction Units