Abstract

In compression molding process, refractive index variation is often introduced in glass during cooling. The variation of refractive index in a molded lens is an important parameter that can influence its optical performance, especially for lenses used in high precision optical systems. In this research, three dimensional (3D) refractive index distribution in molded glass lenses was studied using an optical setup based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer and filtered back-projection reconstruction algorithm. Specifically, phase information was first evaluated by measuring interferometric fringes using a digital camera at pre-determined discrete locations. The 3D refractive index distribution inside of the molded glass lens was then calculated from the phase information.

© 2010 OSA, SPIE