Novel Glass & Fibre

New Infrared Lens Design and Fabrication

Contact: Dr. Majid Hassan

New, inexpensive infrared optical components are an important and growing field of research for thermal imaging applications in the 3-5 and 8-12 μm atmospheric transmission windows. The objective of this project is to develop an infrared lens moulding rig in order to fabricate and optimize novel glass lenses with reproducible and controlled properties. The project initates a new direction of research, complementary to our work on extrusion of glasses, and has the potential to attract new industrial collaborations and funding following the proof of principal we will demonstrate.

A 5mm diameter chalcogenide ball lens

Artist's schematic of our lens moulding apparatus, courtesy of Ken Frampton, ESC workshop

This work is funded through the ORC’s Innovation Fund as part of EPSRC grant EP/C515668/1 Portfolio Partnership in Photonics.