Compact multi-aperture imaging with high angular resolution.

Area of Science:

• Optical engineering
• Imaging systems
• Metamaterials

Background:

• Conventional lens systems can be miniaturized using N×N arrays of identical lenslets, reducing track length.
• However, this approach is limited to low-resolution imaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate high-resolution super-resolved imaging using an array of dissimilar lenslets.
• To achieve significant reductions in imaging system track length without compromising image quality.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an array of dissimilar, freeform lenslets wider than the detector array.
• Ray-traced design and optimization of a long-wave infrared (LWIR) system.
• Simulations of image recovery for quality assessment.

Main Results:

• A 3×3 array of freeform lenslets provided a fourfold reduction in track length compared to a baseline system.
• Simulated recovered image quality was comparable to the baseline system.
• Enabled high-resolution super-resolved imaging with miniaturized optics.

Conclusions:

• Arrays of dissimilar lenslets offer a viable method for high-resolution super-resolved imaging.
• This technique significantly reduces imaging system track length.
• The approach is suitable for advanced optical systems, including LWIR imaging.