REFLECTIVE BLOCK OPTICS FOR PACKAGING OF OPTICAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS

A new optical packaging technique, which we call reflective block opti cs, for optical computing systems is proposed and demonstrated experim entally. This technique is based on solid optics, which is advantageou s with respect to stability, reliability, and alignability. Reflective lenses are used to attain high lens power, compactness, and a large s pace-bandwidth product. Glass blocks, cube beam splitters, and reflect ive optical elements are combined to form optical blocks. We can const ruct several optical systems by assembling the optical blocks.