Pilot line for advanced freeform glass optics: prototyping, replication and metrology (HERC47)

Freeform optics, i.e. optical components lacking translational or rotational symmetry, are the next revolution in photonics. These advanced optical components can deliver highly-original imaging and light collection functionalities with superior performance over their more traditional (a)spherical counterparts. Enhanced field of view, larger spectral band and higher compactness are but a few examples. These superior characteristics can only be reached when overcoming design, fabrication, and metrology challenges. To this end VUB B-PHOT -as core group of Flanders Make- plans to complement its current polymer optics pilot line with an advanced glass freeform pilot line. This will enable the use of (specialty) soft glasses, which are essential when using high optical powers in new spectral regions to boost a variety of strategic research domains that are essential for Flanders’ scientific and economic development: laser-assisted manufacturing, smart sensing and imaging, photonics-enhanced labs-on-chips, and lighting and projection systems. The infrastructure involves ground-breaking metrology tools for quantifying the quality and finish of the new generation freeform optics.

Keywords:Manufacturing, glass, Optics, metrology

Disciplines:Optics, electromagnetic theory