A versatile high resolution objective for imaging quantum gases

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, high-resolution objective lens made from catalog singlets, suitable for quantum gas imaging, with aberration correction, long working distance, and adaptable design for various alkali atoms.

Contribution

A versatile, easy-to-assemble high-resolution objective lens design that corrects for window aberrations and is adaptable for different alkali atom imaging.

Findings

Achieves 1.3 μm resolution at 780 nm wavelength

Provides diffraction-limited imaging over a 360 μm field of view

Compatible with imaging through 5 mm glass windows

Abstract

We present a high resolution objective lens made entirely from catalog singlets that has a numerical aperture of 0.36. It corrects for aberrations introduced by a glass window and has a long working distance of 35mm, making it suitable for imaging objects within a vacuum system. This offers simple high resolution imaging for many in the quantum gas community. The objective achieves a resolution of 1.3{\mu}m at the design wavelength of 780nm, and a diffraction-limited field of view of 360{\mu}m when imaging through a 5mm window. Images of a resolution target and a pinhole show quantitative agreement with the simulated lens performance. The objective is suitable for diffraction-limited imaging on the D2 line of all the alkalis by changing only the aperture diameter, retaining numerical apertures above 0.32. The design corrects for window thicknesses of up to 15mm if the singlet spacings are modified.