The GRIN lens (gradient-index lens) demonstrates the use of gradient-index materials to create a focusing element, particularly for a CD player. In this design, the gradient coefficients serve as variables, but an alternate approach involves fixing the gradient and varying the curvatures of the lens. Gradient-index technology has been applied across various industries, with consumer optics being one of the most common. This technology is often used in CD-ROMs, copiers, and other devices that require compact focusing elements.
The lens showcased here was designed by Nishi and Tayuma at Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG), the manufacturer of gradient lenses branded as Selfoc. It’s important to note that while NSG makes the paraxial data for their lenses publicly available, the actual data detailing the real index distributions have not been published. The index distribution used in this particular lens may not necessarily match that of commercial Selfoc lenses, but it serves as a useful example of how a gradient-index lens can be modeled and entered into OSLO.
GRIN Lens Performance in OSLO
This GRIN lens example is included to demonstrate both its entry into OSLO and its general performance expectations for lenses of this type. In the illustration shown, the block on the right represents an optical disc, helping to visualize the practical application of the lens in optical systems. It is crucial to remember that standard paraxial ray tracing does not handle gradient-index materials, so users must employ the pxc and pxt commands to obtain the correct paraxial data during analysis. By using these commands, accurate performance assessments of GRIN lenses can be achieved, further highlighting their relevance in consumer and industrial optics.
