Cross-fertilization of surface phase functions and non-flat substrates in optical design of imaging systems

Abstract

The pursuit of compact, high-performance, highly integrable imaging systems in emerging technologies like AR/VR/MR devices has driven the evolution of advanced optical designs based on diffractive lenses and metalenses with subwavelength structures. While the field of diffractive lenses and metalenses has seen substantial research, the combination of non-flat surfaces with phase-inducing optical elements remains relatively unexplored. Hence, this thesis explores the integration of surface phase functions and curved substrates using raytracing-based sumulations. This study examines light-gathering properties, distortion control, and telecentricity, offering practical insights. Notable findings include slight enhancements in light-gathering capabilities respresented by small F/#s, significant improvements in distrotion control and telecentricity, and the potential for size reduction through air gap omplementation. The transition from simulation to hardware is recogniezed as a challenge, which requires full wave EM analysis. And lastly the thesis suggests avenues for further research, given time constraints.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English