Broadband dispersion characteristics of diffractive microlenses based on the finite-difference time-domain method

The broadband dispersion characteristics of diffractive microlenses are studied using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The distributions of the diffracted electric fields obtained through a diffractive microlens are presented for illumination wavelengths ranging from 0.35 to 1.30 μm, along with the corresponding broadband dispersion curves. It is shown that both the principal focal length and the diffracted order of the principal focal point are dependent on the illumination wavelengths. The broadband dispersion characteristics of a diffractive microlens may be used to optimise light coupling for a broadband optical fibre source.