Multifocal diffractive lens generating several fixed foci at different design wavelengths

TL;DR

This paper introduces a design method for multifocal diffractive lenses that produce fixed focal points at multiple wavelengths, verified through fabrication and experiments, with potential applications in advanced optical lenses.

Contribution

A novel design approach for multifocal diffractive lenses that generate fixed foci at multiple wavelengths, validated by experimental results.

Findings

Successful design and fabrication of a zone plate with three fixed foci at different wavelengths.

Experimental confirmation of fixed focal points at the specified design wavelengths.

Potential applications in reducing chromatic effects in multifocal contact and intraocular lenses.

Abstract

We propose a method for designing multifocal diffractive lenses generating prescribed sets of foci with fixed positions at several different wavelengths. The method is based on minimizing the difference between the complex amplitudes of the beams generated by the lens microrelief at the design wavelengths, and the functions of complex transmission of multifocal lenses calculated for these wavelengths. As an example, a zone plate generating three fixed foci at three different wavelengths was designed, fabricated and experimentally investigated. The proof-of-concept experimental results confirm the formation of foci with fixed positions at the design wavelengths. The obtained results may find applications in the design and fabrication of novel multifocal contact and intraocular lenses with reduced chromatic effects.