The use of a negative index planoconcave lens array for wide-viewing angle integral imaging

Wide-viewing angle integral imaging by means of a negative refractive index planoconcave lens array is theoretically investigated. The optical properties of a negative refractive index lens are analyzed from the point of view of integral imaging. The effective focal length of a positive index planoconvex lens and a negative index planoconcave lens with the same surface spherical curvature R are approximated as f(P,eff) = 2R and f(N,eff) = 0.4 R, respectively. This short effective focal length of the negative index lens is advantageous for extending the viewing angle of the integral imaging. In addition, some other optical properties of a negative index lens are analyzed and compared for a positive index lens. Three-dimensional ray-tracing observation simulations of integral imaging systems with a negative index lens array and a positive index lens array are then performed, in a comparative study of the wide-viewing angle mode for integral imaging. A three-dimensional ray-tracing simulator for an integral imaging system is then developed. Some interesting issues that appear in the wide-viewing mode of integral imaging are discussed. The negative refractive index planoconcave lens was found to give a wider viewing angle of -60(deg.) similar to +60(deg.) and reduces aberration with only a single spherical planoconcave lens. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America