Open AccessAchromatic Wollaston prism beam splitter using polarization gratings
Author(s) -
Michael W. Kudenov,
Matthew N. Miskiewicz,
Nathan Sanders,
Michael J. Escuti
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.41.004461
Subject(s) - achromatic lens , optics , beam splitter , prism , polarization (electrochemistry) , light beam , diffraction grating , polarizer , materials science , physics , grating , birefringence , laser , chemistry
We describe a method to achromatize a Wollaston prism beam splitter by combining it with a polarization grating. The advantage of this technique, compared to refractive methods of correction, is that only one type of birefringent crystal is needed. Additionally, the assembly can be made thinner while remaining achromatized. In this Letter, a model for the achromatized grating prism is formulated. Experimental validation is conducted by achromatizing a calcite Wollaston prism (apex angle of 5.35°) using a polarization grating with a spatial period of 253 μm. We found that the primary dispersion was reduced by approximately 6.5 times for wavelengths spanning the conventional F, d, and C Fraunhofer lines (486 to 656 nm).