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

Access to Document

10.1364/OL.15.001409

Cite this

@article{c33fa554b78347f79be71e2a777fdd60,

title = "Maximum power of refractive lenses: A fundamental limit",

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.",

author = "Reardon, \{Patrick J.\} and Chipman, \{Russell A.\}",

year = "1990",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1364/OL.15.001409",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "15",

pages = "1409--1411",

journal = "Optics letters",

issn = "0146-9592",

publisher = "Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)",

number = "23",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maximum power of refractive lenses

T2 - A fundamental limit

AU - Reardon, Patrick J.

AU - Chipman, Russell A.

PY - 1990/1/1

Y1 - 1990/1/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84975562775

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84975562775#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1364/OL.15.001409

DO - 10.1364/OL.15.001409

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84975562775

SN - 0146-9592

VL - 15

SP - 1409

EP - 1411

JO - Optics letters

JF - Optics letters

IS - 23

ER -

Maximum power of refractive lenses: A fundamental limit

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this