Nanocomposite gradient refractive-index Fresnel optical-element
A nanocomposite optical-element comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a nanocomposite between the first and the second surface. The nanocomposite comprising of a plurality of refractive-gradients, the plurality of refractive-gradients comprising one or more nanofillers dispersed in a cured organic-matrix. The nanofillers concentration variation determining the plurality of refractive-gradient profiles such that a profile discontinuity exists between any of the plurality of refractive-gradients that are adjacent.
1. A nanocomposite optical-element comprising:
a first surface, wherein the first surface is a Fresnel surface;
a second surface; and
a nanocomposite between the first and the second surface, the nanocomposite comprising of a plurality of refractive-gradients, the plurality of refractive-gradients comprising one or more nanofillers dispersed in a cured organic-matrix, the nanofillers concentration varying in three dimensional space defined by mutually orthogonal x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, profiles of the plurality of refractive-gradients contributing to overall optical power of the optical-element as a whole, and a profile discontinuity exists between any of the plurality of refractive-gradients that are adjacent, wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients have either a radially increasing, or decreasing, refractive-index profile relative to an optical-axis, and each of the plurality of refractive-gradients also varying in respective cross-section profiles along the z-axis.
2. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the optical-element has positive optical power.
3. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the optical-element has negative optical power.
4. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiller concentration of each of the plurality of refractive-gradients decreases radially from the optical-axis.
5. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiller concentration of each of the plurality of refractive-gradients increase radially from the optical-axis.
6. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiller concentration of some of the plurality of refractive-gradients increase radially from the optical-axis.
7. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of refractive-gradient profiles are symmetric about an axis transverse to the optical-axis.
8. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are layered in a plane, transverse to the optical-axis.
9. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are symmetric with respect to the optical-axis.
10. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the optical-element is centrosymmetric with respect to the optical-axis.
11. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the optical-element has bilateral symmetry with respect to a plane transverse to the optical-axis.
12. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of refractive-gradients are concentric annular sections.
13. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients are positioned asymmetrically.
14. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiller concentration, of one or more of the plurality of refractive-gradients, is not linear with respect to distance from the optical-axis.
15. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the refractive gradients is designed to cause total internal reflection at one of the discontinuities.
16. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is positive.
17. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is negative.
18. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is optimize to face a finite-conjugate.
19. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is optimized to face an infinite-conjugate.
20. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is optimized for total internal reflection of incoming light rays at oblique angles.
21. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is aspherically contoured.
22. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the Fresnel surface is cylindrically contoured.
23. The optical-element of claim 1 , further comprising a substrate.
24. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of refractive-gradients have two or more of the nanofillers to control chromatic dispersion.
25. The optical-element of claim 24 , wherein chromatic dispersion is proportional to the optical power of the optical-elements.
26. The optical-element of claim 24 , wherein a ratio of an Abbe-number of the nanofillers is proportional to the optical power of the optical-element.
27. The optical-element of claim 24 , wherein the chromatic dispersion of the optical-element increases axial focusing distance between two or more wavelengths of light.
28. The optical-element of claim 24 , wherein the chromatic dispersion of the optical-element decreases axial focusing distance between two or more wavelengths of light.
29. The optical-element of claim 24 , wherein the chromatic dispersion increases divergence angle between two or more wavelengths of light.
30. The optical-element of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite includes at least one type of an optically nonlinear nanofiller.