Adaptive optical zoom

In order to optically vary the magnification of an imaging system, continuous mechanical zoom lenses require multiple optical elements and use fine mechanical motion to precisely adjust the separations between individual or groups of lenses. By incorporating active elements, such as liquid crystal spatial light modulators or deformable mirrors, into the optical design, we can eliminate the need to change the spacing between lenses and create an imaging system with variable optical magnification that has no macroscopic moving parts.