Abstract
A range of practical nonimaging designs for optical fiber applications is presented. Rays emerging from a fiber over a restricted angular range (small numerical aperture) are needed to illuminate a small near-field detector at maximum radiative efficiency. These designs range from pure reflector (all-mirror), to pure dielectric (refractive and based on total internal reflection) to lens–mirror combinations. Sample designs are shown for a specific infrared fiber-optic irradiation problem of practical interest. Optical performance is checked with computer three-dimensional ray tracing. Compared with conventional imaging solutions, nonimaging units offer considerable practical advantages in compactness and ease of alignment as well as noticeably superior radiative efficiency.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7107-7113 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Applied Optics |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 28 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |