Effect of refractive microlens array fabrication parameters on optical quality

Abstract

Refractive microlens arrays with lens speed F/1 to F/5 are fabricated by the PROM (photoresist refractive optics by melting) technique. Optimal PROM fabrication parameters are determined from interferometric measurements of the optical quality. Elements in a hexagonal PROM microlens array, composed of 10,000 200 micrometers diameter F/2 lenses on 205 micrometers centers, exhibit less than one-tenth wave deviation from sphere. Four planes of these F/2 microlens arrays, each containing 10,000 lenslets have been assembled into an afocal imaging system.