Low-Cost Tunable Adaptive Optics

The tunable acoustic gradient index (TAG) lens is capable of producing rapidly tunable complex optical beams and patterns from a single source beam. The lens uses piezoelectric transducers to modify the density and refractive index within a fluid to generate lensing behavior. The type of beam that the lens generates depends on the electrical driving signal applied to the piezoelectric transducers. We have developed an experimental prototype and verified its ability to generate basic and complex optical beams, however work is ongoing in determining the full potential of the TAG lens.