Gradient-Index Optics Fundamentals and Applications [Paperback]

This book provides a comprehensive and thorough treatment on fundamentals and applications of light propagation through inhomogeneous media. The authors present a description of the phenomena, components and technology used in GRIN Optics, and analyze various applications.

Gradient-Index (GRIN) optics provides a comprehensive and thorough treatment on fundamentals and applications of light propagation through inhomogeneous media. The book can be used both as a classroom text for students in physics and engineering and as a reference for specialists. A description of the phenomena, components and technology used in GRIN Optics are presented. The relationship to lenses, waveguides, optical connections, spatial solitons and vision is demonstrated. Applications of GRIN components and hybrid structures for optical connections, optical sensing and Talbot effect are analyzed.1 Light Propagation in GRIN Media.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Vector Wave Equations.- 1.3 Scalar Wave Equation.- 1.4 Parabolic Wave Equation.- 1.5 Ray Optics: Axial and Field Rays.- 2 Imaging and Transforming Transmission Through GRIN Media.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The Kernel Function.- 2.3 Imaging and Fourier Transforming Through GRIN Media.- 2.4 Fractional Fourier Transforming in GRIN Media.- 2.5 Modal Representation of the Kernel.- 3 GRIN Lenses for Uniform Illumination.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Transmittance Function of a GRIN Lens for Uniform Illumination.- 3.3 GRIN Lens Law: Imaging and Fourier Transforming by GRIN Lens.- 3.4 Geometrical Optics of GRIN Lenses.- 3.5 Effective Radius, Numerical Aperture, Aperture Stop, and Pupils.- 3.6 Diffraction-Limited Propagation of Light in a GRIN lens.- 3.7 Effect of the Aperture on Image and Fourier Transform Formation.- 4 GRIN Lenses for Gaussian Illumination.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Propagation of Gaussian Beams in a GRIN Lens.- 4.3 GRIN Lens Law: Image and Focal Shifts.- 4.4 Effective Aperture.- 5 GRIN Media with Loss or Gain.- 5.1 IntroduclM