Standard and non-standard metarefraction with confocal lenslet arrays

TL;DR

This paper investigates the optical properties and limitations of confocal lenslet arrays, focusing on standard and non-standard metarefraction, and analyzes how non-corresponding lenslet paths affect field of view.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of field-of-view limitations caused by non-corresponding lenslet paths in confocal lenslet arrays, extending previous models.

Findings

Non-corresponding lenslet paths cause ghost images and field-of-view restrictions.

Quantitative analysis of field-of-view limitations is presented.

Conditions for minimizing non-standard metarefraction effects are discussed.

Abstract

A recent paper demonstrated that two lenslet arrays with focal lengths f_1 and f_2, separated by f_1 + f_2, change the direction of transmitted light rays approximately like the interface between isotropic media with refractive indices n_1 and n_2, where n_1 / n_2 = - f_1 / f_2 [J. Courtial, New J. Phys. 10, 083033 (2008)]. This is true if light passes through corresponding lenslets, that is lenslets that share an optical axis. Light can also pass through different combinations of non-corresponding lenslets. Such light can be either absorbed or allowed to form "ghost images"; either way, it leads to a limitation of the field of view of confocal lenslet arrays. This paper describes, qualitatively and quantitatively, a number of such field-of-view limitations.