Gradient index for reduced integration costs (GRIN-RICH)

Physical Sciences Inc. partnered with Alfred University will develop an F/1, 90 degree full field of view MWIR/SWIR gradient index (GRIN) compound lens for reduced size and lens integration cost. The element-by-element achromatization and athermalization of GRIN provide useful performance improvements to GRIN systems. Element count is reduced (= 2), diversity of optical material needed is fixed, and optomechanics can be made smaller. Material development will provide a set of chromatic and monochromatic aberration correction capabilities in the GRIN singlets. Lens performance will achieve full field MTF cutoff of 10% at 50cyc/mm. Demonstration of basic optical properties (index, index variation ?n=0.3, and transmission target 90%) over MWIR/SWIR in Phase I will prepare for Phase II. Optomechanical design will be presented jointly with optical design, illustrating the athermalized components both within an individual lens element as well as in the compound lens assembly. All of this will feed into a system-level cost analysis comparing with existing needs in lens assembly and where costs will be concentrated when the prototype lens scales to production (future 5-10 years). In Phase II, GRIN compound lens elements and optomechanics will be prototyped, assembled, and tested for optical performance.