Design and fabrication of efficient miniature retroreflectors for the mid- and long-range infrared

Bruce E. Bernacki; Norman C. Anheier; Kannan Krishnaswami; Bret D. Cannon; K. Brent Binkley

doi:10.1117/12.771410

15 May 2008 Design and fabrication of efficient miniature retroreflectors for the mid- and long-range infrared

Bruce E. Bernacki, Norman C. Anheier, Kannan Krishnaswami, Bret D. Cannon, K. Brent Binkley

Proceedings Volume 6940, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXIV; 69400X (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.771410
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We report our progress on the design, modeling, and fabrication of a step-index miniature spherical retroreflector for use in the mid- and long-wave infrared region (3 μm-12 μm). Efficient retroreflectors with large acceptance angles and isotropic performance have several defense applications - for instance, target tracking and monostatic LIDAR. The ideal isotropic spherical retroreflector is epitomized by the spherical Luneburg lens, which brings a collimated beam to a perfect focus on the rear surface of the sphere due to its gradient index profile and spherical symmetry. The ideal Luneburg lens' gradient profile, however, must have an index value equal to that of the immersion medium at its boundaries; therefore, rendering its fabrication infeasible for applications in air. Although spherical gradient index designs can provide a good approximation of the Luneburg lens, as of now there have been no demonstrated methods of fabricating such lenses, especially for mid- and long-wave infrared applications. Consequently, we have designed a retroreflector with a step-index approximation to a spherical gradient index design with comparable optical performance to the spherical gradient index ideal. This retroreflector design can be fabricated by molding a higher index chalcogenide glass shell as a cladding layer over a lower index core such as ZnS using glass compression molding.

Citation Download Citation

Bruce E. Bernacki, Norman C. Anheier, Kannan Krishnaswami, Bret D. Cannon, and K. Brent Binkley "Design and fabrication of efficient miniature retroreflectors for the mid- and long-range infrared", Proc. SPIE 6940, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXIV, 69400X (15 May 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.771410

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available