Physics Colloquium - Spring 2009 - Gradient-index Materials
Manufacturing in Nature and
Manmade
Dept of Physics & Astronomy
University of Maine, Orono, Maine
Presents
Duncan T. Moore, (BA in Physics ’69, UMaine)
Vice Provost of
Entrepreneurship
Kingslake Professor of Optical
Engineering
University of Rochester
Gradient-index Materials:
Manufacturing in Nature and
Manmade
Gradient-index
(GRIN) materials have long been known in the atmosphere and lead to
mirages. In addition gradient-index
materials are critical to the vision systems in both compound eyes (e.g.
insects) and single lens systems (e.g. octopus, rats, humans). In some systems the index of refraction
changes from the center of the lens to the edge are greater than 0.1. Humans have been able to manufacture GRIN
materials in glass, polymers and IR materials. Commercially, these have been
used in fiber couplers, endoscopes and copier arrays.
The
presentation will describe design of optical lenses and manufacturing of GRIN
materials which are naturally made and those made in the laboratory and in
production.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
3:30 p.m.
140 Bennett Hall
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