Abstract
An erasable optical disk system requires an objective lens having minimum chromatic aberration. We estimated the chromatic aberration of a conventional refractive singlet. At shorter wavelengths, the focus shift of an objective lens exceeds its depth of focus. A diffractive-refractive hybrid lens can compensate chromatic aberration perfectly. Diffraction efficiency, however, decreases with the degree of compensation. We simulated the relationship between chromatic aberration and diffraction efficiency. Fabrication of designed lenses by glass molding was achieved, and the results showed excellent agreement with the simulation.
