Passive mechanical athermalization of the thermal imaging zoom lenses coupled to an uncooled matrix infrared detectors

Greisukh, G.I., Levin, I.A., Kazin, S.V.

Publication in Journal of Optical Technology

For Russian citation (Opticheskii Zhurnal):

Грейсух Г.И., Левин И.А., Казин С.В. Пассивная механическая атермализация тепловизионного вариообъектива, сопряженного с неохлаждаемым приемником излучения // Оптический журнал. 2023. Т. 90. № 9. С. 14–27. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2023-90-09-14-27

Greisukh G.I., Levin I.A., Kazin S.V. Passive mechanical athermalization of the thermal
imaging zoom lenses coupled to an uncooled matrix infrared detectors [in Russian] // Opticheskii
Zhurnal. 2023. V. 90. № 9. P. 14–27. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2023-90-09-14-27

For citation (Journal of Optical Technology):

G. I. Greisukh, I. A. Levin, and S. V. Kazin, "Passive mechanical athermalization of thermal imaging zoom lenses coupled to an uncooled infrared matrix detector," Journal of Optical Technology. 90(9), 498-506 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1364/JOT.90.000498

Abstract:

Subject of the study. Layouts and designs of thermal compensators for infrared zoom lenses operating with uncooled matrix infrared detector and allowing thermal defocusing to be eliminated by a passive mechanical method. Purpose of the study. Substantiation of the possibilities of achieving high optical performance in a wide range of operating temperatures for simple infrared zoom lenses with a binary variable focal length coupled with uncooled radiation receivers. Research method. Theoretical analysis and mathematical modeling using the equations of geometric optics, dilatometry and rigorous diffraction theory. Main results. A three-component four-lens initial layout with a rotary assembly providing a binary change in the focal length of an infrared zoom lens is proposed. The potential possibilities of the proposed layout of the optical scheme are demonstrated by the example of calculating refractive-lens and refractive-diffractive varioobjectives designed to work with infrared radiation of the long-wave (8–12 µm) and dual medium- and long-wavelength ranges (3.4–11.4 µm) respectively. The possibility of maintaining the high optical characteristics of these zoom lenses in a wide range of operating temperatures (from –40 to +60 °C) due to the elimination of thermal defocusing by a passive mechanical method is substantiated. Structural features of thermal compensators are considered and mathematical relations of their design parameters and thermal defocusing values are obtained. Practical significance. The proposed layout and technical solutions for the composition and structure of thermal compensators make it possible to design thermal imaging zoom lenses that are simple in design and retain high optical performance over a wide range of operating temperatures.

Keywords:

infrared radiation, zoom lens, passive mechanical athermalization, uncooled matrix infrared detector, two-layer diffractive microstructure

Acknowledgements:

the study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project № 20-19-00081)

OCIS codes: 110.0110, 220.0220

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