Modeling liquid-crystal gradient-index lenses

The optical properties of one-dimensional gradient-refractive-index lens arrays based on liquid crystals are studied. We find that it is quite possible, using theoretical methods, to predict angular distributions of the light emanating from such arrays when they are illuminated with collimated monochromatic light. We compare four theoretical methods in relation to experiments. The experimental data and the model, based on a combination of eikonal methods and diffraction, are in close correspondence. Features such as maximal beam width and number of extrema. in the angular light distribution are discussed and explained theoretically. We also studied dispersion effects, both experimentally and theoretically, with good agreement between the two. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.