Abstract:. In the recent years a significant progress was achieved in the field of design and fabrication of optical systems based on freeform optical surfaces. They provide a possibility to build fast, wide-angle and high-resolution systems, which are very compact and free of obscuration. However, the field of freeform surfaces design techniques still remains underexplored. In the present paper we use the mathematical apparatus of orthogonal polynomials defined over a square aperture, which was developed before for the tasks of wavefront reconstruction, to describe shape of a mirror surface. Two cases, namely Legendre polynomials and generalization of the Zernike polynomials on a square, are considered. The potential advantages of these polynomials sets are demonstrated on example of a three-mirror unobscured telescope with F/#=2.5 and FoV=7.2x7.2°. In addition, we discuss possibility of use of curved detectors in such a design.

Finite element modeling is used in this study to optimize the electromechanical behavior of 0-3 composites according to the material properties of their constituents. Our modeling approach considers an 'extended' 2D representative volume element (RVE) with randomly dispersed piezoelectric particles. A variable distribution of their polarization axes is also implemented because a full periodic arrangement of fillers and a unique poling orientation are unrealistic in practice. Comparisons with a simpler RVE and with an analytical model based on the Mori-Tanaka approach are performed as a function of the particle concentration for the elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric homogenized properties. An optimization of the piezoelectric response of 0-3 composites according to material considerations is then computed, allowing it to be shown that the piezoelectric strain coefficient is not the only relevant parameter and that lead-free piezoelectric fillers such as LiNbO 3 and ZnO are competitive alternatives. Finally, the piezoelectric responses of 0-3 composites with different filler arrangements are quantitatively compared to 1-3 composites and to the corresponding bulk material.

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Curved sensors are a suitable technological solution to enhance the vast majority of optical systems. In this work, we show the entire process to create curved sensor-based optical systems and the possibilities they offer. This paper defines the boundaries of the reachable curvatures for a full range of monolithic sensors. We discuss how the curved focal plane shape is related to the imaged scenes and optical parameters. Two camera prototypes are designed, realized and tested, demonstrating a new compact optical architecture for a 40 degree compact objective, as well as a wide field fisheye zoom objective using a convex sensor to image a 180 degree field of view.