Studies On Fiber Collimator Using Polymer GRIN Micro-Sphere-Lens

Polymer gradient refrective index (GRIN) micro-sphere-lens are a new-type optical element of very simple geometrical shape, whose optical function is mainly achieved by the inhomogeneous reflective index distribution of the medium. It has such advantages ?simple geometric shape, small volume, short optical path, lightness in weight, easiness in producing by wholesale, etc. It has great potentialities in such fields as micro-optics, integrated optics and optics communication.Firstly, based on the basic theory of GRIN optics the optical effects of the spherical symmetry GRIN micro-sphere lens were analyzed systematically. Then two suitable monomers were selected to fabricate GRIN micro-sphere lens by suspension-diffusion-copolymerization method. Finally, the refractive index distribution curve and other optic parameters of the micro-lens were measured.On the basis of that, systematical theoretical analysis was made on the collimation effects of the homogenous medium micro-sphere lens and the GRIN micro-sphere-lens, which has demonstrated the feasibility of producing better fiber collimator with GRIN micro-sphere lens. From that many valuable technical parameters were obtained. At the same time, we fabricated a few of fiber collimators using homogenous glass micro-sphere lenses and GRIN micro-sphere-lenses respectively, (for short: S-lens collimator) And we find the results of the experiment and theoretical computation are coherent.Main contents as followed:Chapter 1. Simply introduce the background knowledge of gradient index optics, micro-optics and polymer gradient index material. Besides, elaborate the contents and significance of the research.Chapter 2. Expatiate on the basic theory of the GRIN micro-sphere-lens, especially on the classical model-MAXWELL fisheye lens, which demonstrates their excellent optical properties.Chapter 3. Elaborate the theoretics of making polymer GRIN micro-lens by means of suspension-diffusion-copolymerization and the measurement of the common optics parameter of the medium lens, such as light passing index, no-sphericity and so on, then analyze those results and make advises on how to improve.Chapter 4. According to the theoretical model of light transmission in the GRIN medium, theoretically demonstrate the feasibility of the novel coUimator via the theoretical computation of the collimation of the MAXWELL fisheye lens and the micro-sphere lens we made.Chapter 5. Introduce the fabrication process of polymer GRIN micro-sphere coUimator and analyze its effect of collimation.Chapter 6. Sum up the achievements we made, the problems still existing and the work we should do in the future.