Generalized refraction using lenslet arrays

TL;DR

This paper explores generalized 2D confocal lenslet arrays with shifted and reoriented lenses, demonstrating their potential to emulate metamaterial properties through ray-optical behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized geometric model for confocal lenslet arrays, expanding their design possibilities and potential applications in metamaterials.

Findings

Arrays can mimic homogeneous media ray-optically.

Shifted and reoriented lens configurations are feasible.

Ray-tracing illustrates the array behaviors.

Abstract

We have recently started to investigate 2D arrays of confocal lens pairs. Miniaturization of the lens pairs can make the array behave ray-optically like a homogeneous medium. Here we generalize the geometry of the lens pairs. These generalisations include a sideways shift of the lens centres and a change in the orientation of both lenses in each pair. We investigate the basic ray optics of the resulting arrays, and illustrate these with movies rendered using ray-tracing software. We suggest that confocal lenslet arrays could be used to realize ray-optically some recent metamaterials concepts such as the coordinate-transform design paradigm.