DIFFRACTIVE MULTI-COLOR PHOROPTOR BASED ON LASER SPECKLE

RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN AN OBSERVER AND A SCATTERING SCREEN ILLUMINATED WITH COHERENT LIGHT CAN CAUSE THE RESULTING SPECKLE PATTERN TO SCINTILLATE. THE RELATIVE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE SPECKLE PATTERN AS OBSERVED BY THE EYE IS SIMPLY RELATED TO THE AXIAL LOCATION OF THE CORRESPONDING IMAGE IN THE EYE. THE RELATIVE DIRECTION OF MOTION CAN THEREFORE BE USED TO MEASURE THE REFRACTIVE ERROR OF THE EYE. IF THE SPECKLES DO NOT MOVE BUT SEEM TO BOIL IN SPACE, THE OBJECT IS DETERMINED TO BE CONJUGATE TO THE RETINA. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A LENSLESS, MULTI-COLOR PHOROPTOR SYSTEM THAT USES LASER SPECKLE AND DIFFRACTIVE OPTICS TECHNOLOGY. WE PROPOSE TO DESIGN EYE-SAFE INSTRUMENTATION THAT CAN BE PRODUCED IN VOLUME AND AT LOW-COST. THE INSTRUMENT MUST BE EASY TO OPERATE AND THE DATA SHOULD REQUIRE LITTLE OR NO FURTHER ANALYSIS. THE VISION TEST SHOULD REQUIRE THE PATIENT TO PROVIDE ONLY SIMPLE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS REGARDING SPECKLE MOTION. WE PLAN TO IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE DESIGNS THAT EMPLOY A MINIMUM OF OPTICAL ELEMENTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING PERFORMANCE OR LIGHT EFFICIENCY WHILE MAINTAINING MECHANICAL STABILITY. DURING PHASE I, WE PROPOSE TO GENERATE DETAILED OPTICAL DESIGNS AND FABRICATE A BREADBOARD MULTI-COLOR LASER PHOROPTOR. WE ALSO PLAN TO INVESTIGATE INNOVATIVE USES OF CONVENTIONAL AND DIFFRACTIVE OPTICS IN NEW DESIGNS FOR FUTURE-GENERATION SYSTEMS THAT UTILIZE RED, GREEN AND BLUE VISIBLE LASER DIODES. THE MANUFACTURABILITY OF THE SYSTEM COMPONENTS WILL BE STUDIED. A FIRST-ORDER TOLELRANCE ANALYSIS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN FOR THE MOST PROMISING DESIGNS. WE ALSO PLAN TO HELP DEFINE IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING STABLE MATERIALS AND RUGGED MECHANICAL MOUNTING TECHNIQUES. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL CONCENTRATE ON FABRICATING SYSTEMS USEFUL TO THE ARMY. IT IS EXPECTED THAT BOTH PHASE I AND PHASE II DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WILL LEAD TO VERSATILE AND COMMERCIALLY VIABLE PHOROPTOR SYSTEMS.