Abstract
Abstract
Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) remain highly underutilized in broadband optical systems even though different technologies for DOEs including échelette-type gratings (EGs), multilevel DOEs, and metagratings have been introduced. Specifically, nanocomposite-enabled EGs can achieve efficiencies of close to
100
%
throughout the visible spectrum, but only for relatively small diffraction angles. Therefore, the question remains if they are suitable for high-numerical-aperture (NA) systems. Here we show that this is indeed the case. To this end, we first demonstrate that macroscopic nanocomposite-enabled diffractive lenses (DLs) can achieve perfect broadband focusing up to a NA of 0.03. We then derive analytic relationships and investigate prototypical optical designs to show that this threshold fully covers the requirements of high-end imaging systems with
NA
⩾
1.
This holistic all-system analysis demonstrates that the individual NA of a DL in a broadband imaging system is one to two orders of magnitude lower than the overall system’s NA. This shows that high-NA flat optical elements are not required for high-NA broadband systems. Therefore, nanocomposite-enabled EGs can unlock the full potential of DOEs for broadband optical systems, whereas other technologies cannot fulfill their high efficiency requirements.
Funder
Thüringer Ministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Subject
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Cited by
16 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献