Spectral properties of multiorder diffractive lenses

TLDR

Traditional diffractive lenses use the first diffracted order, but higher‑order operation exhibits markedly different spectral characteristics, and the wavelength‑dependent optical transfer function and Strehl ratio have been derived for such multiorder lenses. Multiorder diffractive lenses provide a new degree of freedom for designing broadband and multispectral optical systems that incorporate diffractive optical elements. Blazing surface‑relief diffractive lenses for higher diffraction orders yields achromatic and apochromatic singlets, and experimental results in two spectral bands confirm excellent agreement with theory.

Abstract

Diffractive lenses have been traditionally designed with the first diffracted order. The spectral characteristics of diffractive lenses operating in higher diffracted orders differ significantly from the first-order case. Multiorder diffractive lenses offer a new degree of freedom in the design of broadband and multispectral optical systems that include diffractive optical elements. It is shown that blazing the surface-relief diffractive lens for higher diffraction orders enables the design of achromatic and apochromatic singlets. The wavelength-dependent optical transfer function and the associated Strehl ratio are derived for multiorder diffractive lenses. Experiments that illustrate lens performance in two spectral bands are described, and the results show excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.