The size and weight of conventional imaging systems is defined by costly non‐planar lenses and the complex lens assemblies required to minimize optical aberrations. The ability to engineer gradient refractive index (GRIN) optics has the potential to overcome constraints of traditional homogeneous lenses by reducing the number of components in optical systems. Here, an innovative strategy to realize this goal based on monolithic GRIN media created in Ge‐As‐Se‐Pb chalcogenide infrared nanocomposites is presented. A gradient heat treatment to spatially modulate the volume fraction of high refractive index Pb‐rich nanocrystals within a glass matrix is utilized, providing a GRIN profile while maintaining an optical transparency. A first‐ever correlation of material chemistry and microstructure, processing protocol, and optical property modification resulting in a prototype GRIN structure is presented. The integrated approach and mechanistic understanding illustrated by this versatile modification paradigm provides a platform for new optical functionalities in next‐generation imaging applications.

中文翻译：

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单片硫属化物光学纳米复合材料可实现红外系统创新：梯度折射率光学

常规成像系统的尺寸和重量由昂贵的非平面透镜以及使光学像差最小化所需的复杂透镜组件定义。设计梯度折射率（GRIN）光学器件的能力有可能通过减少光学系统中的组件数量来克服传统同质透镜的局限性。在此，提出了一种创新的策略，该策略基于Ge-As-Se-Pb硫族化物红外纳米复合材料中创建的整体GRIN介质来实现此目标。利用梯度热处理来在空间上调节玻璃基质中高折射率富Pb纳米晶体的体积分数，从而在保持光学透明性的同时提供GRIN轮廓。材料化学和微观结构，加工方案，并提出了导致原型GRIN结构的光学特性修饰。这种通用的修改范例说明了集成方法和机械理解，为下一代成像应用中的新光学功能提供了平台。