Patent ID: 6879448
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical device for achromatizing an input optical beam that includes axially symmetric beam components of different frequencies that span a spectral interval of at least 100 nm, wherein the axially symmetric beam components have respective wavefronts that differ from a uniform plane wave as a function of frequency, the wavefronts having respective root mean square (RMS) differences from the plane wave including a maximum RMS wavefront difference D in , the device comprising: a first refractive optical element for receiving the input optical beam; and at least one additional refractive optical element, wherein: said first and said additional elements are aligned along an optical axis common to all said elements; and said first and said additional optical elements include surfaces that provide frequency dependent wavefront phase correction to the axially symmetric beam components, so that the input optical beam, upon propagating through said elements, is transformed into an output optical beam that includes axially symmetric beam components having wavefronts whose maximum root mean square (RMS) wavefront difference D