This enables unique opportunities for complex printed optical systems in the range of 0.01mm to 1mm, which are not accessible by any other manufacturing technique. In consequence also the rules for optical system design are changed: Novel ways for creating apertures have to be found, tilted freeform surfaces are standard now and alignment tolerances are needless. Also novel applications suddenly become possible, ranging from micro-imaging, to illumination or integrated sensor systems.
Recent Publications
- A. Toulouse, S. Thiele, H. Giessen, and A. Herkommer, “Alignment-free integration of apertures and non-transparent hulls into 3D-printed micro-optics,” Opt. Lett., vol. 43, no. 5283, Art. no. 5283, 2018, doi: doi.org/10.1364/OL.43.005283.
- S. Thiele, K. Arzenbacher, T. Gissibl, H. Giessen, and A. Herkommer, “3D-printed eagle eye: Compound microlens system for foveated imaging,” Science Advances, vol. 3, p. e1602655, Feb. 2017, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1602655.
- T. Gissibl, S. Thiele, A. Herkommer, and H. Gießen, “Two-photon direct laser writing of ultracompact multi-lens objectives,” NATURE PHOTONICS, vol. 10, no. 8, Art. no. 8, 2016, doi: 10.1038/NPHOTON.2016.121.
- S. Thiele, T. Gissibl, H. Gießen, and A. M. Herkommer, “Ultra-compact on-chip LED collimation optics by 3D femtosecond direct laser writing,” OPTICS LETTERS, vol. 41, no. 13, Art. no. 13, 2016, doi: 10.1364/OL.41.003029.
- T. Gissibl, S. Thiele, A. Herkommer, and H. Giessen, “Sub-micrometre accurate free-form optics by three-dimensional printing on single-mode fibres,” NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 7, 2016, doi: 10.1038/ncomms11763.