Blazed phase liquid crystal beam steering

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Abstract
In this paper we describe a novel liquid crystal device for rapidly steering laser beams for high-power and large-aperture applications. The device consists of an array of optical phase modulators that contain a thin, active, liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two substrates. The unique aspect of the device is that each phase modulator can produce a linear (blazed) phase gradient, rather than the constant phase profile typical of other liquid crystal beam- steering devices. It is designed for use over a wide range of wavelengths and is particularly well suited for the deflection of short-wavelength laser beam. In this paper, we will describe device design, theoretical performance (diffraction efficiency and time response), and present experimental results of a device built to deflect a 1.064-micrometers laser beam.

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