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

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Optical Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55802· OSTI ID:7175482

Lee, J C; Jacobs, S D; Skerrett, K J ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Rochester, Lab. for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY (US)

In this paper, 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: a one-dimensional beam apodizer with a clear aperture that can be mechanically adjusted by sliding two complementary devices relative to each other and a circular beam apodizer.

• OSTI ID: 7175482
• Journal Information: Optical Engineering; (United States), Vol. 30:4; ISSN 0091-3286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
APERTURES
FABRICATION
LASER RADIATION
INTERFACES
LIQUID CRYSTALS
MIXTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
REFLECTIVITY
CRYSTALS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
OPENINGS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
440600* - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)