Tunable achromatizing optical apparatus, methods, and applications
A tunable, achromatizing optical system for use with a broadband imaging modality system for imaging objects having a range of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) values. The optical system includes an achromatizing component and a parfocal component, for example, a zoom system. A method for tuning the wavefront curvature of different chromatic components of objects having a range of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) values when imaged by a broadband imaging modality system includes the steps of providing a broadband imaging modality system having an entrance pupil, for imaging an object having longitudinal chromatic aberration; providing a tunable, achromatizing optical system; and varying the focal length of the parfocal component while maintaining a conjugate relationship between the achromatizing component and the entrance pupil of the broadband imaging modality system.
1. A tunable, achromatizing optical system for use with a broadband imaging modality system for imaging objects having a range of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) values, comprising:
an achromatizing component; and
a parfocal component disposed on an object side of the achromatizing component and in optical alignment therewith,
wherein the parfocal component has a first image-side optic and a last object-side optic, further wherein the achromatizing component is disposed at a front focal plane of the parfocal component.
2. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 1 , wherein the achromatizing component is achromatizing over the wavelength range from 450 nanometers (nm) to 900 nm.
3. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 1 , wherein the tunable, achromatizing optical system is a ‘pupil-matching’ optical system with respect to its use with the broadband imaging modality system for imaging objects having a range of LCA values.
4. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 1 , wherein the achromatizing component comprises one or more optical lenses.
5. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 1 , wherein the parfocal component is a zoom lens.
6. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 1 , wherein the object to be imaged is an in-vivo eye.
7. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 5 , comprising a refractive zoom lens and refractive achromatizing lens.
8. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 5 , comprising a reflective zoom lens and refractive achromatizing lens.
9. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 8 , wherein the reflective zoom lens comprises a Cassegrain telescope.
10. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 9 , wherein the reflective zoom lens comprises a decentered Cassegrain telescope.
11. The tunable, achromatizing optical system of claim 5 , comprising a catadioptric zoom lens and refractive achromatizing lens.
12. A method for tuning the wavefront curvature of different chromatic components of objects having a range of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) values when imaged by a broadband imaging modality system, comprising:
providing a broadband imaging modality system for imaging an object having longitudinal chromatic aberration, wherein the broadband imaging modality system has an entrance pupil;
providing a tunable, achromatizing optical system as set forth in claim 3 ;
positioning the tunable, achromatizing optical system one focal length from the entrance pupil of the broadband imaging modality system;
varying the focal length of the parfocal component while maintaining a conjugate relationship between the achromatizing component and the entrance pupil of the broadband imaging modality system.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing a broadband imaging modality system further comprises providing an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO).