UC San Diego

In this dissertation, a framework for panoramic monocentric lens imaging theory is established and specific lens design optimization algorithms are developed. The global and near-global lens optimization procedures are demonstrated on a number of cases. Furthermore, two wide-angle fiber-coupled monocentric imagers, targeting visible and visible near infrared (VNIR) imaging, were built, tested and compared to an existing state-of-the-art conventional camera system. Lastly, general wide-angle monocentric system performance scaling is discussed, with future directions in development of this class of imagers