Characteristics of wavefront correction using stacked liquid lens based on electrowetting-on-dielectric

Zhao Rui; He Yijia; Chen Lunan; Kong Meimei; Chen Tao; Guan Jianfei; Liang Zhongcheng

doi:10.12086/oee.2021.200345

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Zhao R, He Y J, Chen L N, et al. Characteristics of wavefront correction using stacked liquid lens based on electrowetting-on-dielectric[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2021, 48(5): 200345. doi: 10.12086/oee.2021.200345

Citation:

Zhao R, He Y J, Chen L N, et al. Characteristics of wavefront correction using stacked liquid lens based on electrowetting-on-dielectric[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2021, 48(5): 200345. doi: 10.12086/oee.2021.200345

Characteristics of wavefront correction using stacked liquid lens based on electrowetting-on-dielectric

Center of Optofluidic Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunication, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China

Fund Project: National Natural Science Foundation of China (61775102, 61905117)

More Information

Corresponding authors: Zhao Rui, E-mail: zhaor@njupt.edu.cn; Liang Zhongcheng, E-mail: zcliang@njupt.edu.cn

Received Date 21 September 2020

Revised Date 17 March 2021

Published Date 15 May 2021

Abstract

Abstract

A stacked liquid lens based on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) is designed to analyze the ability of correcting the distorted wavefront caused by curvature, tilt, and piston. The model of the stacked liquid lens is constructed by COMSOL software which is used to simulate the change of liquid interface with different voltage combinations, and the change range of the interface. The correction ability of the stacked liquid lens at a certain point in the wavefront is assessed from wavefront image and point spread function (PSF) is got by ZEMAX software. The results show that different types of distorted wavefront can be compensated via the stacked liquid lens. The peak-to-valley (PV) value decreases from 19.7853λ to 0.18λ, and the root mean square (RMS) value is down from 5.6638λ to 0.0355λ. Concurrently, the Strehl ratio (SR) increased from near 0 to 0.962. The related research results have broad prospects in the field of wavefront correction.
- liquid lens /
- electrowetting-on-dielectric /
- wavefront correction /
- Strehl ratio

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References

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Overview

Overview

Overview: Adaptive optics is a technique used to correct the dynamic wavefront distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence and improve the performance of the optical system. As an important part of the adaptive optics system, wavefront corrector directly affects the imaging effect. At present, the most commonly used wavefront correctors are mainly divided into two types: deformable mirror and liquid crystal spatial light modulator. Deformable mirror has been studied for the longest time and has become the most mature technology. Its principle is to install a mirror on the surface of the actuator, changing the shape of the mirror by applying voltage, and then control the beam phase. Due to the high energy consumption, large volume, and high-cost problems caused by more actuators, the application of deformable mirror is greatly limited. The liquid crystal spatial light modulator adjusts the rotation direction of the rod-shaped liquid crystal molecules through the external loading voltage, which changes the refractive index and then increases or decreases the optical path to realize the modulation of the incident beam phase. Low power consumption, high precision, and small size are remarkable advantages of it. However, the polarization dependence, low correction frequency, and slow response speed of liquid crystal materials are the choke of development. The spatial modulator with small volume, high density, and fast response is the general trend.

In this paper, a kind of superimposed liquid lens based on the electrowetting on dielectric is proposed. The distortion wavefront can be corrected by controlling the liquid interface with the effect. It has the dominant position of small volume, easy array, no mechanical motion, no polarization dependence, and fast response speed comparing with the traditional deformable mirror and liquid crystal light modulator. Firstly, according to the theory of electrowetting on dielectric, the structure of the liquid lens system is designed, and the feasibility of the wavefront correction is deduced. Then, the changes of the liquid interface in the liquid lens units with different voltage combinations are simulated in COMSOL software. After that, aberration is introduced into the ideal wavefront of ZEMAX. On the basis of the voltage surface relationship obtained in COMSOL, the working voltage is adjusted to change the liquid interface surface shape, so as to realize the correction of the aberration. Finally, the phase distribution and point spread function distribution of the distorted wavefront correction process are given. The results show that the lens system has a good ability to correct the aberrations introduced at any point of the wavefront, the corresponding peak valley value decreases from 19.7853λ to 0.18λ, the root-mean-square value decreases from 5.6638λ to 0.0355λ, and Strehl ratio increases from near zero value to 0.962. The related research results will promote the development of wavefront correction technology and provide a theoretical basis for the realization of liquid lens for wavefront correction.