Process for making gradient index optical elements
First Claim
1. A process for making a gradient index optical element which comprises steps of:
- preparing a gel by a sol-gel technique,forming a concentration profile of a metal component across the obtained gel, andfixing the formed concentration profile of the metal component by dipping the gel in a concentration profile-fixing solution, and wherein;
a concentration profile-fixing rate of diffusion of the concentration profile-fixing solution in the gel at the step of fixing the concentration profile of the metal component is higher than a concentration profile-forming rate of diffusion of the metal component at the step of forming said concentration profile.
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Abstract
The invention provides a process for making a gradient index optical element having a precisely parabolic configuration of refractive index profile. After a concentration profile is imparted across a gel prepared by a sol-gel technique, the concentration profile is fixed. In this case, the treatment with a concentration profile-fixing solution is carried out at a temperature higher than that at which the treatment with a concentration profile-imparting solution is carried out, whereby the rate of fixing the concentration profile is so higher than that of imparting the concentration profile, so that any possible deformation of the concentration profile formed at the concentration profile-imparting step is reduced or inhibited.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A process for making a gradient index optical element which comprises steps of:
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preparing a gel by a sol-gel technique, forming a concentration profile of a metal component across the obtained gel, and fixing the formed concentration profile of the metal component by dipping the gel in a concentration profile-fixing solution, and wherein; a concentration profile-fixing rate of diffusion of the concentration profile-fixing solution in the gel at the step of fixing the concentration profile of the metal component is higher than a concentration profile-forming rate of diffusion of the metal component at the step of forming said concentration profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for making a gradient index optical element which comprises steps of:
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preparing a gel by a sol-gel technique, dipping the obtained gel in an acid or metal salt-containing solution to form a concentration profile of a metal component across the gel, and fixing the formed concentration profile of the metal component by dipping the gel in a concentration profile-fixing solution, wherein; at the step of forming the concentration profile of the metal component a diffusion coefficient in the gel of the metal component contained in the gel is up to 5×
10-7 cm2 /sec. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for making a gradient index optical element which comprises steps of:
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preparing a gel by a sol-gel technique, dipping the gel in a given liquid to form a concentration profile of a metal component across the gel, and fixing the formed concentration profile of the metal component by dipping the gel into a concentration profile-fixing solution, wherein; at the step of forming the concentration profile a solubility of the metal component contained in the gel with respect to a liquid in which the gel is dipped is in a range of 1×
10-4 mol/l to 5×
10-3 mol/l. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification