Thin lenses have potentially much lower weight and volume than traditional refractive lenses, and therefore enable compelling solutions in augmented-/virtual-/mixed-reality (AR/VR/MR) headsets. The geometric-phase lens (GPL), formed either with liquid crystals (LCs) or metasurfaces, is emerging as a leading technology because of its ability to implement arbitrary aspherical phase profiles and its potential for low loss and minimal ghosting. However, a strong chromatic dispersion is inherent to each singlet. One prior method to overcome this employs a stack of multiple achromatic GPLs acting on all colors simultaneously with color filters and other waveplates to achieve an apochromatic lens system. Another concept in the prior art is to use multiple color-selective GPLs (CS-GPLs) wherein each diffracts only a single color while transmitting the others. In this work, we report on a family of color-selective GPLs with highly chromatic efficiency spectra, made using multi-twist LC coatings. In both theory and experiment, we show the diffraction efficiency of red, green, and blue lenses is high (< 91%) while the complementary colors of each coating are almost fully transmitted undiffracted. The CS-GPLs is a promising optical element to provide a new route to mitigate the chromatic abberation in the AR/VR/MR lens system.
A prior simulation-only study of aspherical phase profiles [Hornburg et al, Proc SPIE 10743, 10743-4 (2018)] in geometric-phase lenses (GPLs) indicated that aspherical doublet lens systems should provide substantially improved off-axis performance than those using spherical phase profiles. In this work, we fabricate a liquid crystal GPL doublet (24.5 mm diameter, 40 mm back focal length at 633 nm) and compare it to with a reference spherical GPL singlet. We characterized the liquid crystal alignment quality, efficiencies, and spot performance. With these compact GP lens systems, we realize improved performance for wider fields of view, while maintaining low loss.
Here, we demonstrate a liquid crystal (LC) polymer Bragg polarization grating (PG) with large angular band- width and high efficiency in transmission-mode for 532 nm wavelength and 400 nm period. The field-of-view (FOV ) is increased significantly while preserving high diffraction efficiency by realizing a monolithic grating comprising two different slants. Using rigorous coupled-wave analysis simulation, we identified a structure with 48° FOV and 70% average first-order efficiency. We then experimentally fabricated and characterized the grating with a photo-aligned LC polymer network, also known as reactive mesogens. We measured 40° FOV and nearly 80% average diffraction efficiency. With this broadened and fairly uniform angular response, this wide FOV Bragg PG is a compelling option for large deflection-angle applications, including near-eye display in augmented reality systems, waveguide based illumination, and beam steering.
All diffractive lenses manifest chromatic aberration/dispersion. If the focal length f0 at a given wavelength λ0 is known, then the focal length f(λ) = f0 λ0 / λ at other wavelengths λ. This can be considerable, even for lenses of a few diopters. Geometric-phase lenses (GPLs), are no exception, which manipulate incident light’s wavefront by the Pancharatnam-Berry phase effect. Several years ago, we developed achromatic coatings based on photo-aligned chiral liquid crystals that achieve nearly 100% efficiency into the primary and conjugate waves, and more recently we demonstrated fast, defect-free GPLs down to F/1.5 for red light. Until now, no one has reported how to generally reduce chromatic aberration and ensure that two or more wavelengths can have the same focal length. Here, we report on a new approach to correct for chromatic aberration using a stack of GPLs and retarders to arrange red, green, and blue wavelengths to have precisely the same focal length. A simple arrangement of these elements results in a thin, monolithic, and flat GPL, which can either converge or diverge three wavelength sources (R/G/B) with the same focal length, positive or negative, depending on the handedness of the circular input polarization. Here, we describe the concept and characterize our first prototypes by evaluating focal lengths, efficiency, and polarization contrast. We also discuss the realistic opportunities and limitations for this approach.
We report on the properties of a fast F/1.5 geometric-phase lens with a focal length of 37 mm at 633 nm and a 24.5 mm diameter. This lens employs photo-aligned liquid crystal layers to implement the spatially varying Pancharatnam-Berry phase, leading to the expected polarization- and wavelength-dependent focusing. An achromatic spectrum is achieved using (chiral nematic) multi-twist retarder coatings, with high first-order (≥98%) and low zero-order (≤1%) transmittance across 450-700 nm. We measure traditional optical metrics of the GP lens including focused spot profile and modulation transfer function through knife edge testing and NBS 1963a resolution charts. This work includes a comparison to similar F/# conventional thick and thin lenses.
Over the last several years, we have pioneered liquid crystal polarization gratings (PGs), in both switchable and
polymer versions. We have also introduced their use in many applications, including mechanical/non-mechanical
laser beam steering and polarization imaging/sensing. Until now, conventional holographic congurations were
used to create PGs where the diameter of the active area was limited to 1-2 inches. In this paper, we discuss a
new holography setup to fabricate large area PGs using spherical waves as the diverging coherent beams. Various
design parameters of this setup are examined for impact on the quality of the recorded PG profile. Using this
setup, we demonstrate a large area polymer PG with approximately 66 inch square area, and present detailed
characterization.
Over the last few years, Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have developed
a new beam steering technique that uses a stack of thin liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to efficiently and
non-mechanically steer a beam over a large field-of-regard (FOR) in discrete steps. This technology has been
successfully transferred to BNS through an exclusive license agreement, and a facility has been completed to enable
commercial production of these devices. This paper describes the capabilities enabled by both the LCPGs and the
successful transfer of this technology.
We introduce two high efficiency thin-film optical elements, operating over a wide spectral range, to generate and
control the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of various light sources: a broadband q-plate and a broadband
Forked Polarization Grating (FPG). The broadband OAM manipulation is achieved by thin liquid crystal polymer
layers that are aligned to provide the required spatially varying anisotropy. These elements operate using
geometric phase principles to generate raised and lowered OAM modes whose efficiencies are sensitive to the
polarization state of the incident light. We discuss the design principles involved and experimentally demonstrate
broadband q-plates and FPGs that are highly efficient (> 90%) in the visible wavelength range. These thin film
elements enable easy integration into various optical systems requiring broadband OAM manipulation such as
optical trapping and high capacity information.
We introduce a family of broadband retarders, comprised of a low number of twisted nematic liquid crystal layers,
that accomplishes well-controlled polarization transformation for nearly any bandwidth desired. For example, we
show that broadband linear to circular polarization conversion can be achieved with only two twist layers where
the performance matches the popular three-waveplate approach by Pancharatnam. Using liquid crystal polymers
on a single substrate, we show how these multi-twist retarders are embodied as a monolithic birefringent plate
with excellent performance and potentially very low cost.
We introduce and demonstrate a new holographic recording technique based on birefringent prisms for creating
polarization gratings (PGs). Conventional holographic arrangements for creating PGs consist of several polarization
and collimating optics that are carefully aligned with each other, and often require substantial physical
space. Both the size and the relative distance between these optics increase for large exposure areas, that limit
the range of grating period achievable. Moreover, the cost and complexity associated with the mounting of the
several elements also increases, and therefore such approaches are not viable for large area PGs and large volume
manufacturing. To overcome the above limitations, we propose new approach using multiple polarizing prisms
to record PGs that is compact, scalable for large areas, and enables easy tuning of the grating period by simple
rotation of at most two elements.
We introduce a high efficiency method to control orbital angular momentum (OAM) using a novel diffractive
optical element - switchable forked polarization gratings (FPGs). We successfully fabricated the element and
realized electric-optical switching of the OAM state. Unlike other approaches, this OAM manipulation requires
no mechanical parts or expensive instruments. It is achieved by complex and locally periodic alignment of a
nematic liquid crystal (LC) layer acting on the Pancharatnam-Berry phase. We have recently introduced fixed
FPG with photo-aligned liquid crystal polymer as a highly efficient OAM state controller. We now report
on our experimental implementation of electrically switchable FPGs based on liquid crystal cell. The local
anisotropy is obtained by photo-alignment and liquid crystal technology. The spatial patterning is achieved
by polarization holography. An applied voltage field on the cell can switch the element between an OAM
generating/transforming mode and a transmissive mode. The diffraction behavior and OAM conversion behavior
with respect to polarization, wavelength, and external voltage are characterized. Our current samples showed
diffraction efficiency of 95% and switching time of approximately 3 ms. Because they are very efficient, thin, and
easily tailored via holographic fabrication, switchable FPGs are ideal elements to implement enhanced control
of OAM in high capacity information applications, among others.
Polarization gratings (PGs) as polarization sensitive diffractive optical elements work in broadband (UV to Mid-
IR) with nearly 100% diffraction efficiency. We have introduced and utilized the PGs in different types of beam
steering modules presented in our previous papers. Here, we describe and demonstrate a nonmechanical beam
steering device based on passive gratings, liquid crystal (LC) polymer PGs. The device covers a large-angle
Field-Of-Regard (FOR) with high efficiency, and is based on a stack of alternating LC half-wave plates and
LC polymer PGs. The half-wave plates are switchable and are used to select the handedness of the circularly
polarized input beam. The polymer PGs diffract the input beam to either of the first diffraction orders based
on the circular handedness of the beam previously selected. When compared with conventional beam steering
methods based on active gratings (ternary and quasi-ternary designs), this technique is experimentally able to
steer an equivalent number of angles with similar efficiency, but fewer LC cells, and hence, fewer transparent
electrodes and lower absorption. We successfully demonstrate the ability to steer 80° FOR with roughly 2.6°
resolution at 1064 nm wavelength.
We examine a novel method to control the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of lightwaves using forked polarization
gratings (FPGs). We significantly improve the fabrication of FPGs and achieve substantially higher
quality and efficiency than prior work. This is obtained by recording the hologram of two orthogonally polarized
beams with phase singularities introduced by q-plates. As a single compact thin-film optical element, an FPG
can control the OAM state of light with higher efficiency and better flexibility than current methods, which
usually involve many bulky optical elements and are limited to lower OAM states. Our simulations confirm that
FPGs work as polarization-controlled OAM state ladder operators that raise or lower the OAM states (charge
l) of incident lightwaves, by the topological charge (lg) on the FPGs, to new OAM states (charge l ± lg). This
feature allows us to generate, detect, and modify the OAM state with an arbitrary and controllable charge. An
important application of FPGs are the essential state controlling elements in quantum systems based on OAM
eigenstates, which may enable extreme high capacity quantum computation and communication.
We introduce and demonstrate a quasi-ternary nonmechanical beam steering design based on Polarization Gratings
(PGs). That uses a single wave plate and N PGs to generate 2(N+1)-1 steering angles. When compared to
conventional binary (2N) or ternary (3N) liquid crystal PG steering designs, this technique uses fewer elements
arranged in a simpler configuration to obtain the same number of steering angles. This advantageous property
can be achieved by selecting proper diffraction angles and alignment of the PGs. Due to fewer elements per
stage, losses due to electrode absorption and Fresnel reflections are reduced, thereby increasing the overall steering
efficiency. Using this approach, we demonstrate a four-stage (N = 4) quasi-ternary beam steering device
that achieves 52° Field Of Regard (FOR) with 1.7° resolution (31 steering angles) at 1550 nm wavelength.
We have introduced the concept of a snapshot imaging spectropolarimeter based on anisotropic diffraction
gratings known as Polarization Gratings (PGs). This instrument can acquire both spectral and polarization
information of an object by using the unique optical properties of PGs, which create a diffraction pattern on a
single focal plane array. In this paper we develop a system matrix for reconstructing the object information from
this diffraction pattern. This matrix is extendable to various configurations containing several PGs. Moreover,
we demonstrate an imaging spectropolarimeter based on this approach, that was used to reconstruct both screen
generated scenes and outdoor objects. Reconstructed objects are sampled at 100 ×100 × 51 (x, y, λ) with 4 nm
spectral resolution.
We introduce a new beam steering concept of the "Risley grating" that consists of independently rotating inline
polarization gratings (PGs). The Risley grating concept replaces the bulky prismatic elements of the Risley prisms
with thin plates containing polarization gratings, and employs their highly polarization-sensitive diffraction. As
rotating two PGs, the output beam tracks within a field-of-regard (FOR), which is determined by the grating
period and their relative orientations. Since PGs are typically patterned in thin liquid crystal layers (a few μm
thick), the system can be implemented with far less thickness and weight. In addition, these thin gratings can
be placed with virtually zero proximity and the beam walk-off becomes negligible. We demonstrate the Risley
grating that performs continuous steering with 62° FOR and 89-92% transmittance at 1550 nm wavelength. The
governing equations for the steering angles of the Risley grating in the direction cosine space are also presented.
Measurements of complete polarization and spectral content across a broad wavelength range of a scene are used
in various fields including astronomy, remote sensing, and target detection. Most current methods to acquire
spectral and polarimetric information need moving parts or modulation processes which lead to significant
complexity or reduce sampling resolution. Here we present a novel snapshot imaging spectropolarimeter based
on anisotropic diffraction gratings known as polarization gratings (PGs). Using multiple PGs and waveplates,
we can acquire both spectrally dispersed and highly polarized diffractions of a scene on a single focal plane array,
simultaneously. PGs uniquely produce only three diffracted orders (0 and ±1), polarization independent zerothorder,
polarization sensitive first-orders that depend linearly with the Stokes parameters, and easily fabricated
as polymer films suitable for visible to infrared wavelength operation. The most significant advantage of our
spectropolarimeter over other snapshot imaging systems is its capability to provide simultaneous acquisition of
both spectral and polarization information at a higher resolution and in a simpler and more compact way. Here
we report our preliminary data and discuss the cogent design of our imaging spectropolarimeter.
We introduce and demonstrate a compact, nonmechanical beam steering device based on liquid Crystal (LC)
Polarization Gratings (PGs). Directional control of collimated light is essential for free-space optical communications,
remote sensing, and related technologies. However, current beam steering methods often require moving
parts, or are limited to small angle operation, offer low optical throughput, and are constrained by size and
weight. We employ multiple layers of LCPGs to achieve wide-angle (> ±40°), coarse beam steering of 1550
nm light in a remarkably thin package. LCPGs can be made in switchable or polymer materials, and possess
a continuous periodic birefringence profile, that renders several compelling properties (experimentally realized):
~ 100% experimental diffraction efficiency into a single order, high polarization sensitivity, and very low scattering.
Light may be controlled within and between the zero- and first-diffraction orders by the handedness of
the incident light and potentially by voltage applied to the PG itself. We implement a coarse steering device
with several LCPGs matched with active halfwave LC variable retarders. Here, we present the preliminary
experimental results and discuss the unique capability of this wide-angle steering.
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