We tried to develop the liquid crystal geometric phase elements (LCGPE) that are available for use in the midand far-infrared (MIR and FIR) wavelengths. In view of optical throughput, the materials for making GPE were selected by the use of a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. The LC polarization grating (LCPG) and LC q-plate (LCQP) designed for 3.85 µm and 9.5,µm are respectively fabricated, and evaluated their diffraction properties experimentally.
We have constructed a near-infrared hyperspectral S3 imager consisting of a circularly polarized broadband light source, a liquid crystal polarization grating, and a commercial hyperspectral camera. The circular polarization diffraction efficiency of the polarization grating was over 99 percent at 1550 nm. This imager is capable of obtaining both hyperspectral circular polarization distributions and conventional hyperspectral images. Using the S3 hyperspectral imager, we demonstrated the classification of plastic samples with a deep learning algorithm, which can be applied to waste classification in recycling plants.
Photoalignment is one the important techniques to fabricate flat panel displays, birefringent functional films, and polarized optical diffraction devises. Thinner optical devises are attained when the optical film exhibits high birefringence. We investigated systematic studies on photoalignable liquid crystalline polymers (PLCPs), which achieve molecularly oriented structure for themselves, showing the bulk-photoalignment. This paper describes new PLCPs which reveal high photosensitivity, high photoalignability, and controllability of generated birefringence by means of in situ modification of the oriented mesogenic side groups. The initial generated birefringence of the PLCP films is 0.15, whereas the improved birefringence exceeds 0.4 is achieved via in situ modification of the oriented mesogenic side groups. Using PLCP films, polarization gratings are fabricated.
Spectroscopic polarization measurement and control using channeled spectrum has several unique features and
is useful for various spectroscopic instruments. It utilizes the strong dispersion characteristics in polarization
retardation of high-order retarders so that the polarization modulation can be made without using mechanical
or active elements for polarization modulation. In this presentation, we describe its principle, basic features, and
several applications including a spectroscopic ellipsometer and ultrafast rotations of beam profile and polarization.
In this presentation, we propose a scheme for a polarized beam steering system using multiply-cascaded rotating PGs with biaxial anisotropy. Our scheme can steer the polarized beam along both a Lissajous orbit and raster orbit, depending on the synchronization of the rotation frequencies of the PGs. Also, the use of more than two PGs allows us to control the center position of the Lissajous orbit. In addition, by using biaxial anisotropy, the diffraction efficiency and the ellipticity of the steered beam remain almost unchanged during PG rotation. Our beam steering system will apply to LiDAR and laser display.
In recent years, vector beam (VB)-based optical multiplexing communication is attracting attention to increase the information transfer capacity, and hence several types of VB demultiplexers fabricated by using liquid crystals have been reported. In this presentation, we propose a crossed-fork-shaped polarization grating (CFPG) as a new VB demultiplexer. The CFPG was fabricated by recording multiple polarization holograms onto the photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystal. Recorded each polarization hologram works individually to act as a VB detector, which converts specific VB into a Gaussian beam with diffraction. The CFPG has the potential to miniaturize the demultiplexer because several VB detection functions can be integrated. VB detection between radial and azimuthal polarizations also demonstrated by using a pair of quarter-wave PG and normal-FPG.
In recent year, optical and polarization vortex (OV and PV) beams, which has phase and polarization singularities, have much-attracted attention in various research fields due to their unique physical properties. In this presentation, we report our attempts for the vortex beam generation based on the photo-alignment technique of functionalized liquid crystal polymers. The OV and PV beam generations are respectively demonstrated by using azo-dye-doped liquid crystal polymers and photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystal. Our approaches realize highly functionalized vortex beam generators which are expected to evolve the photonics applications of vortex beams.
In the present presentation, we report the experimentally and theoretically investigated spatial wavefront conversion properties of an optical vortex (OV) generation system including azo-dye doped liquid crystal (ADDLC) polymer composite and vector beam illuminator, focusing on the abilities of flexibility and achromaticity. Threedimensional anisotropic structure was induced by recording vector beam in ADDLC and it can convert a polarized Gaussian beam into polarized OVs whose topological charge is depending on the structure of anisotropy. The photo-induced anisotropic structure can be re-initialized by turning it off and changing the illuminating polarization pattern of vector beam. Numerical simulations and experimental results showed that our anisotropic structure can generate OV with broadband spectrum.
Polarization is one of the important parameters of the light wave. Diffractive elements, which can control the polarization, have been attracted as high-performance light control device. We have implemented various studies on the formation method and the diffraction characteristics of the anisotropic diffractive element using a photoreactive material. Photocross linkable polymer liquid crystal (PCLC) is an attractive material that can induce anisotropy along the polarization direction of linearly polarized ultraviolet light (LPUV). Also, owing to its relatively large anchoring strength, PCLC have been used as an alignment film of low-molar-mass liquid crystal (LC). Galvanometer scanners (GS) can freely control the exposure position of the laser beam by adjusting the two mirrors, it is possible to form a highly functionalized optical element by drawing the arbitrary exposure lines to the photo-reactive material with temporally changing the polarization state of the laser beam. In this study, we report the polarization drawing method based on GS for the fabrication of anisotropic diffractive optical elements. First, the two types anisotropic diffractive optical elements were fabricated on the PCLC films. To investigate the diffraction properties of fabricated anisotropic diffractive optical elements, we used a polarized He-Ne laser beam as probe and observed diffracted lights. Diffracted beam was twodimensionally emitted depending on the formed anisotropic optical distribution. Then we fabricated LC cell, which works as polarization dependent anisotropic Fresnel lens. The experimental investigations show that it has functions of light condensing and polarization control. From these results, high-performance light control device can be fabricated by the polarization drawing method.
Liquid crystal grating with three-dimensionally modulated anisotropic structure is fabricated by one-step exposure of an empty glass cell whose inner walls are coated with photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystals to four-beam polarization interference UV beams. The diffraction properties were probed with a 633 nm wavelength laser and a 532 nm wavelength laser which were the coaxial incident. The novel properties, which diffraction directions are threedimensionally different depending on the wavelengths, are realized by the resultant liquid crystal grating. Furthermore, the resultant liquid crystal grating can be also applied to an advanced polarizing beam splitter which opposite circular polarization and linear polarizations are diffracted simultaneously. These diffraction properties were well-explained by Jones calculus. The resultant liquid crystal grating has the plural of the functions of optical elements such as wave plates, polarization beam splitter, dichroic beam splitter, Wollaston/Rochon prism, and tunable wavelength filter. Therefore, the resultant liquid crystal grating can contribute to miniaturization, sophistication, and cost reduction of optical systems using for, such as optical measurement, communication, and information processing.
We have been developing focal-plane phase-mask coronagraphs ultimately aiming at direct detection and characterization of Earth-like extrasolar planets by future space coronagraph missions. By utilizing photonic-crystal technology, we manufactured various coronagraphic phase masks such as eight-octant phase masks (8OPMs), 2nd-order vector vortex masks, and a 4th-order discrete (32-sector) vector vortex mask. Our laboratory experiments show that the 4th-order vortex mask reaches to higher contrast than the 2nd-order one at inner region on a focal plane. These results demonstrate that the higher-order vortex mask is tolerant of low-order phase aberrations such as tip-tilt errors. We also carried out laboratory demonstration of the 2nd-order vector vortex masks in the High-Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and obtained 10-8-level contrast owing to an adaptive optics system for creating dark holes. In addition, we manufactured a polarization-filtered 8OPM, which theoretically realizes achromatic performance. We tested the manufactured polarization-filtered 8OPM in the Infrared Coronagraphic Testbed (IRCT) at the JPL. Polychromatic light sources are used for evaluating the achromatic performance. The results suggest that 10-5- level peak-to-peak contrasts would be obtained over a wavelength range of 800-900 nm. For installing the focal-plane phase-mask coronagraph into a conventional centrally-obscured telescope with a secondary mirror, pupil-remapping plates have been manufactured for removing the central obscuration to enhance the coronagraphic performance. A result of preliminary laboratory demonstration of the pupil-remapping plates is also reported. In this paper, we present our recent activities of the photonic-crystal phase coronagraphic masks and related techniques for the high-contrast imaging.
Photonic crystal, an artificial periodic nanostructure of refractive indices, is one of the attractive technologies for
coronagraph focal-plane masks aiming at direct imaging and characterization of terrestrial extrasolar planets. We
manufactured the eight-octant phase mask (8OPM) and the vector vortex coronagraph (VVC) mask very precisely using
the photonic crystal technology. Fully achromatic phase-mask coronagraphs can be realized by applying appropriate
polarization filters to the masks. We carried out laboratory experiments of the polarization-filtered 8OPM coronagraph
using the High-Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT), a state-of-the-art coronagraph simulator at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL). We report the experimental results of 10-8-level contrast across several wavelengths over 10%
bandwidth around 800nm. In addition, we present future prospects and observational strategy for the photonic-crystal
mask coronagraphs combined with differential imaging techniques to reach higher contrast. We proposed to apply the
polarization-differential imaging (PDI) technique to the VVC, in which we built a two-channel coronagraph using
polarizing beam splitters to avoid a loss of intensity due to the polarization filters. We also proposed to apply the
angular-differential imaging (ADI) technique to the 8OPM coronagraph. The 8OPM/ADI mode mitigates an intensity
loss due to a phase transition of the mask and provides a full field of view around central stars. We present results of
preliminary laboratory demonstrations of the PDI and ADI observational modes with the phase-mask coronagraphs.
We previously developed an achromatic method for the generation of the white-light optical and polarization
vortices using axially-symmetric polarizer (ASP). In the present presentation, we report the experimental study
on the Fresnel diffraction characteristics of the vortices generated by ASP. The diffraction pattern of the optical
vortex has a dark core whose diameter is not scaled by the beam diameter. This behavior is described by
the numerical simulation for a point-like vortex at ASP. We also studied the polarization change of a radially
polarized light from ASP owing to the diffraction. This change can be explained by the decomposition of the
radially polarized light into a plane wave and a point-like optical vortex which are respectively circularly-polarized
with opposite handedness.
The Vector Vortex Coronagraph (VVC) is one of the most attractive new-generation coronagraphs for ground- and
space-based exoplanet imaging/characterization instruments, as recently demonstrated on sky at Palomar and
in the laboratory at JPL, and Hokkaido University. Manufacturing technologies for devices covering wavelength
ranges from the optical to the mid-infrared, have been maturing quickly. We will review the current status of
technology developments supported by NASA in the USA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory-California Institute of
Technology, University of Arizona, JDSU and BEAMCo), Europe (University of Li`ege, Observatoire de Paris-
Meudon, University of Uppsala) and Japan (Hokkaido University, and Photonics Lattice Inc.), using liquid
crystal polymers, subwavelength gratings, and photonics crystals, respectively. We will then browse concrete
perspectives for the use of the VVC on upcoming ground-based facilities with or without (extreme) adaptive
optics, extremely large ground-based telescopes, and space-based internal coronagraphs.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.