Interferometric characterization of pyroelectrically activated micro-arrays of liquid lenses in lithium niobate crystals

S. Grilli; L. Miccio; V. Vespini; P. Ferraro

doi:10.1117/12.796076

11 August 2008 Interferometric characterization of pyroelectrically activated micro-arrays of liquid lenses in lithium niobate crystals

S. Grilli, L. Miccio, V. Vespini, P. Ferraro

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7064, Interferometry XIV: Applications; 706404 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796076
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In recent years a wide variety of liquid based optical elements have been conceived, designed and fabricated even for commercial products like digital cameras. The impressive development of microfluidic systems in conjunction with optics has led to the creation of a completely new field of investigation named optofludics. Among other things, the optofluidic area deals with the investigation and the realization of liquid micro-lenses. Different methods and configurations have been proposed in literature to achieve liquid variable micro-lenses. This paper reports about the possibility to achieve lensing effect by a relatively easy to accomplish technique based on an open microfluidic system consisting of a tiny amount of appropriate liquid manipulated by the pyroelectric effect onto a periodically poled LiNbO₃ substrate. Basically, an electrowetting process is performed to actuate the liquid film by using the surface charges generated pyroelectrically under temperature variation. The configuration is electrode-less compared to standard electrowetting systems, thus improving the device flexibility and easiness of fabrication. The curvature of the liquid lenses has been characterized by interferometric techniques based on the evaluation of the phase map through digital holography. The results showing the evolution of the lens curvature with the temperature variation will be presented and discussed.

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S. Grilli, L. Miccio, V. Vespini, and P. Ferraro "Interferometric characterization of pyroelectrically activated micro-arrays of liquid lenses in lithium niobate crystals", Proc. SPIE 7064, Interferometry XIV: Applications, 706404 (11 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796076

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