INTRODUCTION

Liquid lenses quickly adjust focus to accommodate objects

located at various working distances (WDs). Liquid lenses are
small, mechanically or electrically controlled cells containing
optical-grade liquid. When a current or voltage is applied to a
liquid lens cell, the shape of the cell changes. This change occurs
within milliseconds and causes the optical power, and therefore
focal length and WD, to shift. Many manufacturers have
designed liquid lenses that operate via slightly different
processes: electrowetting, current-driven polymer, or sound
piezoelectric. Liquid lenses are an ideal solution for imaging
applications requiring rapid focusing, high throughput, and
depth of field (DOF) and WD accommodation. Liquid lenses
improve and simplify the process of focus stacking (“z-
stacking”) in microscopy imaging applications. Focus stacking
is often required when imaging with high magnification
objectives due to their limited depths of field. A liquid lens can
quickly and precisely focus to various object planes, therefore
speeding up focus stacking. Liquid lenses can be easily
integrated into tube lenses or in infinity
space within a microscope. Liquid lenses are often used in
ophthalmology, where refraction control and depth of field
adjustment is crucial. Standard ophthalmic equipment contains
multiple glass lenses used to adjust for the human eye. These
lenses can be replaced with a single liquid lens, speeding up the
imaging or diagnosis process and decreasing the overall size of
ophthalmic equipment such as OCTs and phoropters. Liquid
lenses have very fast response times, are electrically tunable via
voltage or current, and respond in a matter of milliseconds.
Fixed Focal Length and Zoom lenses often rely on mechanical
or manual adjustments to change focus, which can slow the
imaging system. Liquid lenses can be implemented in various
locations throughout an imaging system, such as being
embedded within or threaded to the front or rear of an imaging
lens. Mechanics are eliminated in a liquid lens which enables
their compact design. In addition, liquid lenses are comparable
in functionality to many individual lenses within an assembly.
By removing those lenses and replacing them with a small liquid
cell, the overall size and weight of the full lens is reduced. Liquid
lenses are limited by their small aperture sizes - the largest is
approximately 16mm in diameter. The small apertures restrict
liquid lenses and only allow for use with sensors up to about
1/1.8” if the lens is retrofitted onto the front of an existing
machine vision lens. Liquid lenses embedded inside systems do
not reduce sensor coverage.
To Find The Refractive Index Of A Liquid By Using A
Convex Lens And Plane Mirror

Aim

To find the refractive index of a liquid using a convex lens and plane
mirror.
Apparatus
♦ Convex Lens
♦ Plane Mirror
♦ Optical Needle
♦ The clean transparent liquid in a clean beaker
♦ An iron stand with base and clamp arrangement
♦ Plane glass slab
♦ Plumb Line
♦ Spherometer
♦ Half metre scale

Theory

Let us consider f1 and f2 to be the focal length of the glass convex

lens and liquid lens respectively and let F be the focal length of their
combination, then
1F=1f1+1f2
From the lens maker’s formula
We have,
1f2=(n−1)[1R1−1R2]
Simplifying further, we get
Inserting values of f2, n can be calculated.

Diagram

Procedure
For the focal length of the convex lens,
Choose a convex lens and find its rough focal length.
Place the plane mirror on the horizontal base of the iron stand
Place the convex lens on the plane mirror
Screw tight the optical needle in the clamp of the stand and hold it
horizontally above the lens at a distance equal to its rough focal
length.
Bring the tip of the needle to the principal vertical axis of the lens so
the tip of the needle appears to be touching the tip of its image.
Move the needle up and down and remove the parallax between the
tips of the needle and its image.
Measure the distance between the tip and upper surface of the lens
using a plumb line and half metre scale.
Also, measure the distance between the tip and the surface of its plane
mirror.
For the Focal Length of the Combination
Take a few drops of transparent liquid on the plane mirror and put a
convex mirror over it.
Repeat 6, 7 and 8.
Record your observations.
(c) For the radius of curvature of the
For the radius of curvature of the convex lens surface
Observations
The rough focal length of convex lens = _____ cm
Arrangement, The distance of Needle Tip, , , Focal Lengthx (cm)
From lens surface x1 (cm), From plane mirror x2 (cm),
Meanx=x1+x22(cm),
1, (2a), (2b), (2c), (3)
Without Liquid, , , , f1 = _____
With Liquid, , , , F = _____
The radius of curvature of the convex lens surface, R = _____ cm.

Calculations
1f2=1F−1f1
n=1+Rf2
Precautions
Only a few drops of liquid should be taken so as not to thicken the
layer.
The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
The liquid taken should be transparent.
Sources of Error
The liquid may not be quite transparent.
The parallax may not be fully removed.

Determination of the refractive index of a liquid

by a liquid lens method
Objective
Determine the refractive index of a liquid.
Apparatus
Convex lens, liquid, plane mirror, retort stand with clamp and pin,
spherometer, meter rule.
Theory
A spherometer is an instrument for the precise measurement of the
radius of a sphere. This experiment is one of the most important
experiments to find the refractive index for all the liquids. As we
know that the light pass in vacuum with constant speed which is equal
3×108 M/Sec (300000 Km/Sec) and the light pass also in different
material which is transparent like (Air, water, glass) because the
atoms of this material has ability to absorb the light and
retransmission and dispersion it, for this reason the light pass through
different materials in different speeds less than its speed in vacuum.
The speed of light depend on the nature of material, for that reason
when the light pass from one medium to another, a change in speed
will occur and change in direction happened, this phenomena called
refraction, and controlled by "Snell's law of refraction "and to explain
the change in light speed when it pass from vacuum to certain
medium, we used a physical quantity called refractive index or index
of refraction of material (n) is the ratio of the light speed in vacuum to
its speed in a material . 2 University of Technology Laser and
Optoelectronics Engineering Department Laser & Optoelectronic
Branch Below are the materials having the values of refraction index
are more than one because the speed of light in vacuum is large than
its speed in materials: Refraction index Material 1.501 C6H6 1.461
CCL4 1.362 CH3OH 1.333 H2O Let the focal length of the convex
(glass) lens be f1 and the focal length of the combination of this lens
and the Plano concave liquid lens be f. then: = + ……….. (1) Since f1
and f are known, the value of (f2) can be calculated from (1). Now =
( -1)( + ) = (where f2 and r are both negative) i.e. =1+ ……….. (2) 3
University of Technology Laser and Optoelectronics Engineering
Department Laser & Optoelectronic.
Procedure
♦ The plane mirror is placed on the base of the stand with the pin
held horizontally by the clamp above.
♦ The convex lens is then placed on the mirror, and its focus is
found by locating the position of the pin where it coincides with
its own image. By measuring from this point to the lens, its focal
length (f1) is found.
♦ The lens is now removed, and a few drops of liquid are placed
on the mirror. On placing the convex lens on the liquid, a
combination of a convex (glass) and a Plano-concave (liquid)
lens results.
♦ The focal length (f) of the combination is found as above, and
the focal length (f2) of the liquid lens calculated from f and f1
(equ. (1)).
♦ The radius of curvature (r) of the lens surface in contact with the
liquid is now obtained by a spherometer , or by boys, method.
♦ Calculate the refractive index of liquid from equation (2). 4
University of Technology Laser and Optoelectronics
Engineering Department Laser & Optoelectronic
♦ Find the percentage error of (n):
p.e= ((nth-nexp)/nth)×100%