Open AccessBroadband waveplate lenses
Author(s) -
Nelson V. Tabiryan,
Svetlana V. Serak,
Sarik R. Nersisyan,
David E. Roberts,
Boris Ya Zel'dovich,
Diane M. Steeves,
Brian R. Kimball
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.007091
Subject(s) - optics , waveplate , materials science , laser , wavelength , polarization (electrochemistry) , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry
We report on lenses that operate over the visible wavelength band from 450 nm to beyond 700 nm, and other lenses that operate over a wide region in the near-infrared from 650 nm to beyond 1000 nm. Lenses were recorded in liquid crystal polymer layers only a few micrometers thick, using laser-based photoalignment and UV photopolymerization. Waveplate lenses allowed focusing and defocusing laser beams depending on the sign of the circularity of laser beam polarization. Diffraction efficiency of recorded waveplate lenses was up to 90% and contrast ratio was up to 500:1.