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Ultralow dispersion gradient refractive index (GRIN) microlens arrays (MLAs) covering the visible to mid-infrared wavelength range are imprinted in GeS 2 -Ga 2 S 3 -CsI chalcohalide glass by an efficient and economical microthermal poling process. The effect of poling voltage on GRIN microstructure, structural rearrangement, optical properties of the poled glasses, and imaging of the imprinted MLAs have been investigated. Optical focal length of the GRIN MLAs decreases from 353 to 63 μm with increasing the poling voltage from 200 to 1000 V, which is in accordance with imprinting-induced phase difference increase from 0.57 λ to 1.19 λ. Optimal chromatic aberration (between 520 and 850 nm) as low as 5% is achieved in the GRIN MLAs. Formation mechanism of GRIN MLAs is mainly associated with an enhanced transverse migration of Cs+ ions within mesh square area, which is provided by an improved anode of microthermal poling setup. Thus, an efficient and inexpensive process developed can produce broadband and ultralow dispersion GRIN MLAs for imaging, display, and photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) micro-optics present unique opportunities for control of the chromatic properties, new degrees of freedom for optical design as well as the potential for use in new optical system applications. GRIN microgratings were imprinted in GeS 2 -Ga 2 S 3 -MCl (M = Na, K, Cs) chalcohalide glasses by microthermal poling, and the effects of the type and concentration of alkali cations on their performance were investigated. Two effective imprinting formation regions of the GRIN microstructure based on the poling saturation voltage (U s) and glass composition are observed at fixed poling time and temperature. The U s increases from 140 to 750 and 2600 V in accordance with the activation energy (E a) of alkali ions (Na+ to K+ and Cs+) increasing from 45.15 to 58.62 and 92.58 kJ/mol for studied samples. The saturated numbers of diffraction order (N s) of the gratings in these samples are 7, 9 and 6, respectively, the highest number being provided by the K+-containing sample. This is in accordance with imprinting-induced phase differences (0.14λ, 0.19λ and 0.09λ) measured in the fabricated samples containing Na+, K+ and Cs+ ions. Furthermore, the U s of samples decreases from 1500 to 300 V with four concentrations of K+ from 10 to 30%, associated with their E a of K+ decreasing from 69.62 to 53.46 kJ/mol, while N s increases from 8 to 14, which is attributed to the increase of the phase difference in the GRIN structures. The controllable GRIN microstructures are realized by adjusting the type and concentration of alkali cations in chalcohalide glasses, which is expected to drive the design of broadband GRIN microgratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]