Large-scale achromatic flat lens by light frequency-domain coherence optimization

Flat lenses, including metalens and diffractive lens, have attracted increasing attention due to their ability to miniaturize the imaging devices. However, realizing a large scale achromatic flat lens with high performance still remains a big challenge. Here, we developed a new framework in designing achromatic multi-level diffractive lenses by light coherence optimization, which enables the implementation of large-scale flat lenses under non-ideal conditions. As results, a series achromatic polymer lenses with diameter from 1 to 10 mm are successfully designed and fabricated. The subsequent optical characterizations substantially validate our theoretical framework and show relatively good performance of the centimeter-scale achromatic multi-level diffractive lenses with a super broad bandwidth in optical wavelengths (400-1100 nm). After comparing with conventional refractive lens, this achromatic lens shows significant advantages in white-light imaging performance, implying a new strategy in developing practical planar optical devices.

Automated summary

This article presents a new framework for designing multi-level diffractive lenses with achromatic capabilities under non-ideal conditions. Polymer lenses with diameters ranging from 1 to 10 mm were successfully designed and fabricated. Optical characterizations showed that these achromatic lenses have a super broad bandwidth and significant advantages in white-light imaging performance.