Fabrication of gradient refractive index ball lenses

The theoretical model of the Maxwell fish eye sphere lens has long been regarded as an absolute optical instrument without practical application since it was proposed. But the study on the theory of Maxwell fish eye micro-spherical lens shows that at certain condition it has fine image formation ability and coupling efficiency. Based on the Fick's diffusion equations, the distribution function of refractive index of gradient refractive index (GRIN) ball lenses is derived. Lithium-containing silicate glass is fabricated and GRIN ball lenses whose diameters are from 0.3 to 3.0 mm are made by ion exchange and the sagging method in sodium nitrate. Radial refractive index profiles of these GRIN ball lens are measured by interferometer. Results show that the distribution of the index of refraction is a parabolic curve and in concordance with the computational consequence and its Δn is 0.0002.