Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths

Title: Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths

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Abstract

The spatial intensity profile of an optical beam of designated wavelengths, such as a laser beam, is shaped (the beam is apodized) by means of cholesteric liquid crystals of opposite chirality disposed successively along the path of the beam. The crystals have curved surfaces, which may be defined by a lens which defines the thickness of the liquid crystal fluid gap in a liquid crystal cell, so as to vary the selective reflection of the designated wavelength across the aperture of the beam. In this way, a soft aperture is provided. By using tandem cell pairs having liquid crystals of opposite chirality, but of different pitch, and with lenses of different curvature, beams of different wavelengths which are projected colinearly along the path may be individually tailored in spatial intensity profile.

Inventors:

Jacobs, Stephen D ^[1]; Cerqua, Kathleen A ^[2]

Pittsford, NY
Rochester, NY

Issue Date:: 1987-01-01

Research Org.:: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 866308

Patent Number(s):: 4679911

Assignee:: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING

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G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
G02B27/58 - Optics for apodization or superresolution

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING
G02F1/13471 - {in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
G02B5/3016 - {involving passive liquid crystal elements

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DOE Contract Number:: FC08-85DP40200

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: optical; apparatus; liquid; crystals; shaping; spatial; intensity; beams; designated; wavelengths; profile; beam; laser; shaped; apodized; means; cholesteric; opposite; chirality; disposed; successively; path; curved; surfaces; defined; lens; defines; thickness; crystal; fluid; gap; cell; vary; selective; reflection; wavelength; aperture; soft; provided; tandem; pairs; pitch; lenses; curvature; projected; colinearly; individually; tailored; liquid crystals; curved surface; spatial intensity; optical beam; optical apparatus; laser beam; liquid crystal; intensity profile; selective reflection; optical beams; curved surfaces; cholesteric liquid; designated wavelengths; /349/

Citation Formats


                    Jacobs, Stephen D, and Cerqua, Kathleen A. Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths.  United States: N. p., 1987. 
        Web.

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                    Jacobs, Stephen D, & Cerqua, Kathleen A. Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths.  United States.

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                    Jacobs, Stephen D, and Cerqua, Kathleen A. Thu .  
        "Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866308.

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@article{osti_866308,

  title        = {Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths},

  author       = {Jacobs, Stephen D and Cerqua, Kathleen A},

  abstractNote = {The spatial intensity profile of an optical beam of designated wavelengths, such as a laser beam, is shaped (the beam is apodized) by means of cholesteric liquid crystals of opposite chirality disposed successively along the path of the beam. The crystals have curved surfaces, which may be defined by a lens which defines the thickness of the liquid crystal fluid gap in a liquid crystal cell, so as to vary the selective reflection of the designated wavelength across the aperture of the beam. In this way, a soft aperture is provided. By using tandem cell pairs having liquid crystals of opposite chirality, but of different pitch, and with lenses of different curvature, beams of different wavelengths which are projected colinearly along the path may be individually tailored in spatial intensity profile.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1987},

  month        = {1}

}

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