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Research and developments on thermal infrared zoom lenses over the last decade (2010 onwards) will be surveyed in this talk, with a special focus on mechanically compensated continuous zooms for cooled detectors. During the time period under consideration, SWaP (Size- Weight and Power) optimized optomechanical systems were realized, to compactly fit zoom imaging functionality in previously unconventional platforms such as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Dual band zoom systems, imaging in both the Mid wave (MWIR) and Long Wave (LWIR) thermal regimes have been explored. There has been considerable research and development activity in the field of chalcogenide material technologies which open up design possibilities for broadband transmission applications (VIS through LWIR). The feasibility of zoom functions implemented via non-traditional elements such as metalenses, Alvarez lenses, deformable mirrors, and multi-layer Diffractive Optical Elements (MLDOE) have been demonstrated.
Raju et al. (Mon,) studied this question.