Optical polarizer material

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872485

Ebbers, Christopher A ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

Several crystals have been identified which can be grown using standard single crystals growth techniques and which have a high birefringence. The identified crystals include Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3, LiNaCO.sub.3, LiKCO.sub.3, LiRbCO.sub.3 and LiCsCO.sub.3. The condition of high birefringence leads to their application as optical polarizer materials. In one embodiment of the invention, the crystal has the chemical formula LiK.sub.(1-w-x-y) Na.sub.(1-w-x-z) Rb.sub.(1-w-y-z) Cs.sub.(1-x-y-z) CO.sub.3, where w+x+y+z=1. In another embodiment, the crystalline material may be selected from a an alkali metal carbonate and a double salt of alkali metal carbonates, where the polarizer has a Wollaston configuration, a Glan-Thompson configuration or a Glan-Taylor configuration. A method of making an LiNaCO.sub.3 optical polarizer is described. A similar method is shown for making an LiKCO.sub.3 optical polarizer.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5945037
• OSTI ID: 872485
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

optical
polarizer
material
crystals
identified
grown
standard
single
growth
techniques
birefringence
linaco
likco
lirbco
licsco
condition
leads
application
materials
embodiment
crystal
chemical
formula
1-w-x-y
na
1-w-x-z
rb
1-w-y-z
cs
1-x-y-z
z
crystalline
selected
alkali
metal
carbonate
double
salt
carbonates
wollaston
configuration
glan-thompson
glan-taylor
method
described
similar
shown
metal carbonates
crystalline material
alkali metal
single crystal
single crystals
chemical formula
metal carbonate
metal carbon
similar method
/252/359/423/