Maximum power of refractive lenses: A fundamental limit

Patrick J. Reardon; Russell A. Chipman

doi:10.1364/OL.15.001409

Maximum power of refractive lenses: A fundamental limit

Patrick J. Reardon, Russell A. Chipman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper explores the maximum optical power, i.e., the shortest focal length, that can be achieved with homogeneous materials given a cylindrical volume and a minimum-diameter constraint. An equation for the maximum optical power for a given lens diameter and two refractive indices is defined. For example, we determine that a 25.4- mm-diameter lens assembly cannot have an effective focal length of ≤6 mm using existing optical glasses in the visible.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1409-1411
Number of pages	3
Journal	Optics letters
Volume	15
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.15.001409
State	Published - Jan 1 1990
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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10.1364/OL.15.001409

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Maximum power of refractive lenses: A fundamental limit

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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