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Title: Laser beam apodizer utilizing gradient-index optical effects in cholesteric liquid crystals

Abstract

Laser beam apodization has been a goal of solid state laser programs since the early 1970s. Apodization is the shaping of the spatial beam profile to increase the fill factor through the gain medium. This allows more energy to be extracted and also reduces linear and nonlinear edge diffraction effects that cause self-focusing spikes. Here, the fabrication of laser beam apodizers (or soft apertures) with large clear apertures using cholesteric liquid crystals is described. A soft edge profile is achieved by filling a cell with two separate cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures with different selective reflection bands. The fluidlike property of liquid crystals allows them to mix at the interface. In this overlap region, the reflectivity changes as a function of position. This concept is applied to the fabrication of two devices: (1) a one-dimensional beam apodizer with a clear aperture that can be mechanically adjusted by sliding two complementary devices relative to each other and (2) a circular beam apodizer.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7148859
DOE Contract Number:  
FC03-85DP40200
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Optical Engineering; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 30:3; Journal ID: ISSN 0091-3286
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; LASER RADIATION; BEAM SHAPING; OPTICAL SYSTEMS; DESIGN; FABRICATION; SOLID STATE LASERS; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PERFORMANCE; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; LASERS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RADIATIONS; 426002* - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)

Citation Formats

Lee, J C, Jacobs, S D, and Skerrett, K J. Laser beam apodizer utilizing gradient-index optical effects in cholesteric liquid crystals. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1117/12.55802.
Lee, J C, Jacobs, S D, & Skerrett, K J. Laser beam apodizer utilizing gradient-index optical effects in cholesteric liquid crystals. United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55802
Lee, J C, Jacobs, S D, and Skerrett, K J. 1991. "Laser beam apodizer utilizing gradient-index optical effects in cholesteric liquid crystals". United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55802.
@article{osti_7148859,
title = {Laser beam apodizer utilizing gradient-index optical effects in cholesteric liquid crystals},
author = {Lee, J C and Jacobs, S D and Skerrett, K J},
abstractNote = {Laser beam apodization has been a goal of solid state laser programs since the early 1970s. Apodization is the shaping of the spatial beam profile to increase the fill factor through the gain medium. This allows more energy to be extracted and also reduces linear and nonlinear edge diffraction effects that cause self-focusing spikes. Here, the fabrication of laser beam apodizers (or soft apertures) with large clear apertures using cholesteric liquid crystals is described. A soft edge profile is achieved by filling a cell with two separate cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures with different selective reflection bands. The fluidlike property of liquid crystals allows them to mix at the interface. In this overlap region, the reflectivity changes as a function of position. This concept is applied to the fabrication of two devices: (1) a one-dimensional beam apodizer with a clear aperture that can be mechanically adjusted by sliding two complementary devices relative to each other and (2) a circular beam apodizer.},
doi = {10.1117/12.55802},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7148859}, journal = {Optical Engineering; (United States)},
issn = {0091-3286},
number = ,
volume = 30:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}