Design and Analysis of Infrared Diffractive Optical Systems Using Beam Synthesis Propagation

An F/1.2 infrared optical system that involves two aspheric BD-2 lenses and an aspheric diffractive surface was designed over 8-14 mu m with a field angle of 15.2 degrees. The system may be used in uncooled cameras and is analyzed using beam synthesis propagation ( BSP). The diffractive surface is modeled as a physical surface with a given thickness, and results are compared with those obtained by conventional methods, such as the exit-pupil method and a method which superposes diffraction orders.