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US 2021/0239893 A1Published application
Polarization manipulation of free-space electromagnetic radiation fields
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsJean-Michel Di Nicola, Alvin Erlandson, Joseph A. Menapace, Gabriel Mennerat
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Abstract
Technology is provided to transform spatially variable arbitrary polarization states and wavefront of a high-fluence, large-aperture laser beam to prescribed spatially resolved polarization states and wavefront at a specific position, with minimal losses. Technology is also provided to transform spatially resolved polarization states and wavefront at a specific position to spatially variable arbitrary polarization states and wavefront.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for determining the input distribution of input states of polarization of an input electromagnetic radiation field in an input plane transverse to a beam path of said input electromagnetic radiation field;
- at least one birefringent plate positioned parallel to said input plane transverse to said beam path, wherein said at least one birefringent plate comprises an eigen-axis orientation and a spatially-varying thickness configured such that when said input electromagnetic radiation field having said input distribution propagates onto said at least one birefringent plate, said at least one birefringent plate will transform said input distribution into a predetermined output distribution of output states of polarization.
A method, comprising:
- determining the input distribution of input states of polarization of an input electromagnetic radiation field in an input plane transverse to a beam path of said input electromagnetic radiation field;
- providing at least one birefringent plate having an eigen-axis orientation and a spatially-varying thickness configured such that when said input electromagnetic radiation field having said input distribution propagates onto said at least one birefringent plate, said at least one birefringent plate will transform said input distribution into a predetermined output distribution of output states of polarization;
- and
- locating said at least one birefringent plate in said beam path to produce said predetermined output distribution of output states of polarization in an output plane transverse to said beam path.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.