SELF-IMAGING PROPERTIES OF A PERIODIC MICROLENS ARRAY - VERSATILE ARRAY ILLUMINATOR REALIZATION

The general features of the wavefield diffracted by a microlens array are described. The transversal periodicity of both a refractive and a diffractive periodic microlens array allows to obtain a set of replica s of the focal intensity distribution along the optical axis of the sy stem, with different multiplicity. The result is applied for implement ing a versatile optical array illuminator, with a variable density of bright spots at the output plane. Some experimental results of the pro cedure are shown.