Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Nat Commun. 2017 Mar 7;8:14673. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14673.
Micro-scale optical components play a crucial role in imaging and display technology, biosensing, beam shaping, optical switching, wavefront-analysis, and device miniaturization. Herein, we demonstrate liquid compound micro-lenses with dynamically tunable focal lengths. We employ bi-phase emulsion droplets fabricated from immiscible hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon liquids to form responsive micro-lenses that can be reconfigured to focus or scatter light, form real or virtual images, and display variable focal lengths. Experimental demonstrations of dynamic refractive control are complemented by theoretical analysis and wave-optical modelling. Additionally, we provide evidence of the micro-lenses' functionality for two potential applications-integral micro-scale imaging devices and light field display technology-thereby demonstrating both the fundamental characteristics and the promising opportunities for fluid-based dynamic refractive micro-scale compound lenses.
微尺度光学元件在成像和显示技术、生物传感、光束整形、光开关、波前分析和器件小型化方面发挥着关键作用。在此，我们展示了具有动态可调焦距的液体复合微透镜。我们采用由不混溶的碳氢化合物和氟碳化合物液体制成的双相乳液液滴来形成响应性微透镜，这些微透镜可以重新配置以聚焦或散射光，形成实像或虚像，并显示可变焦距。动态折射控制的实验演示通过理论分析和波动光学模型得到补充。此外，我们还提供了微透镜在两个潜在应用中的功能证据——积分微尺度成像器件和光场显示技术，从而展示了基于流体的动态折射微尺度复合透镜的基本特性和有前途的应用机会。
