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New class of bioinspired lenses with a gradient refractive index
Author(s) -
Jin Y.,
Tai H.,
Hiltner A.,
Baer E.,
Shirk James S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.25404
Subject(s) - refractive index , lens (geology) , materials science , gradient index optics , optics , optical power , fabrication , flexibility (engineering) , polymer , optoelectronics , composite material , physics , mathematics , medicine , laser , statistics , alternative medicine , pathology
The recognition that eye lenses in nature often employ a gradient refractive index to enhance the focusing power and to correct aberrations has motivated us to construct a synthetic lens using the layered concept encountered in biological lenses. The result is a highly flexible technology for the fabrication of gradient‐refractive index lenses that is based on a method of polymer forced assembly. Polymeric nanolayered films with incremental differences in the refractive index are assembled according to a prescribed design and molded into the desired shape. The exceptional flexibility of the process lies in the wide range of lens shapes and index profiles that can be realized. A lens with any refractive index distribution can be achieved within the refractive index range of available coextrudable optical materials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1834–1841, 2007