Lens/zone plate combination for chromatic dispersion correction

• US 5,442,480 A
• Filed: 08/31/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Scott, Miles, Swanson, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US08/115,393
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 350/162.16, 350/162.17, 350/162.2, 350/162.21, 350/162.22, 350/162.24, 350/417, 359/565, 359/566, 359/569, 359/570, 359/571, 359/574, 359/350, 359/356, 359/355, 359/357
• US Class Current: 359/355
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G02B27/0056 takes precedence; holographic optical elements G02B5/32; zone systems G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4211 correcting chromatic aberrations G02B27/0056, G02B27/4222, G02B27/4227 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1876 Diffractive Fresnel lenses; Zone plates; Kinoforms G02B5/1842, G02B5/1847 take precedence; optical systems having diffractive correction means G02B27/0037; Fresnel lenses operating by refraction G02B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1895 such optical elements having dioptric power

Abstract

Chromatic dispersion between first and second wavelengths of light is corrected by a lens/zone plate combination. The zone plate is adapted both to send most of the first wavelength light into its zeroth order and to send most of the second wavelength light into its first order and to change the focal length of the second wavelength light to coincide with the focal length of the first wavelength light. A preferred embodiment includes a zinc/selinide sulfide lens having a zone plate etched onto one of its surfaces. The zone plate has a multi-step phase profile including four phase levels. The lens/zone plate combination is particularly adapted for use with CO₂ and HeNe lasers to bring their focal lengths into coincidence.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus for correcting chromatic dispersion between an infrared light source and a visible light source of substantially differing wavelengths, comprising a lens/zone plate combination, the zone plate having a phase depth on the order of the wavelength of the visible light to transmit substantially all of the infrared light into its zeroth order and to diffract most of the visible light into its first order, thus changing the focal length of the visible light to coincide with the focal length of the infrared light.

2. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the zone plate has a focal length of ##EQU5## where Δ

n is the difference in the index of refraction of the lens for the first and second wavelengths of light and R₁ and R₂ are the radii of curvature of the surfaces of the lens.

3. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the zone plate has a multi-step phase profile.

4. The optical apparatus of claim 3 wherein the multi-step phase profile includes 4 phase levels.

5. The optical apparatus of claim 4 wherein the zone plate profile is produced utilizing two binary amplitude masks and subsequent etching.

6. The optical apparatus of claim 5 wherein the two binary amplitude masks are written by a pattern generator.

7. The optical apparatus of claim 5 wherein the two binary amplitude masks are generated by electron beam writers.

8. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens is zinc selinide and the zone plate is etched into one surface of the lens.

9. The optical apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first wavelength light is 10.6 μ

m and the second wavelength light is 0.6328 μ

m.

10. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens is zinc sulfide and the zone plate is etched into one surface of the lens.

11. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said infrared light has a wavelength of about 10.6 μ

m and said visible light has a wavelength of about 0.6328 μ

m.

12. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the zone plate has a numerical aperture less than or equal to 0.1.

13. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the zone plate has a continuous phase profile.

14. The optical apparatus of claim 13 wherein the zone plate profile is produced using an interferometerically controlled lathe.

15. Optical apparatus for correcting chromatic dispersion between light from a CO₂ laser and a HeNe laser comprising a zinc selinide lens having a zone plate etched on one of its surfaces, the zone plate having a phase depth of 0.75 of the wavelength from the HeNe laser and having a four level phase profile.

16. The optical apparatus of claim 15 wherein the numberical aperture of the zone plate is less than or equal to 0.1.

17. The optical apparatus of claim 15 wherein the zone plate profile is produced utilizing two binary amplitude masks with subsequent etching.

18. The optical apparatus of claim 17 wherein the two binary amplitude masks are written by a pattern generator.

19. The optical apparatus of claim 17 wherein the two binary amplitude masks are generated by electron beam writers.