Abstract: Optical beam steering and focusing systems, devices, and methods that utilize diffractive waveplates are improved to produce high efficiency at large beam deflection angles, particularly around normal incidence, by diffractive waveplate architectures comprising a special combination of liquid crystal polymer diffractive waveplate both layers with internal twisted structure and at a layer with uniform structure.

Abstract: Optical beam steering and focusing systems, devices, and methods that utilize diffractive waveplates are improved to produce high efficiency at large beam deflection angles, particularly around normal incidence, by diffractive waveplate architectures comprising a special combination of liquid crystal polymer diffractive waveplate both layers with internal twisted structure and at a layer with uniform structure.

Abstract: Method for fabrication of vector vortex waveplates of improved quality due to reduced singularity size and widened spectral band, the method comprising creating a boundary condition for vortex orientation pattern of a liquid crystal polymer on a substrate using materials with reversible photoalignment, equalizing exposure energy over the area of the waveplate by redistributing the energy of radiation used for photoalignment from the center of the beam to its peripheries, and using vector vortex waveplate as a linear-to-axial polarization converter. Fabrication of spectrally broadband vector vortex waveplates further comprises two or more liquid crystal polymer layers with opposite sign of twist.

Abstract: Method for fabrication of vector vortex waveplates of improved quality due to reduced singularity size and widened spectral band, the method comprising creating a boundary condition for vortex orientation pattern of a liquid crystal polymer on a substrate using materials with reversible photoalignment, equalizing exposure energy over the area of the waveplate by redistributing the energy of radiation used for photoalignment from the center of the beam to its peripheries, and using vector vortex waveplate as a linear-to-axial polarization converter. Fabrication of spectrally broadband vector vortex waveplates further comprises two or more liquid crystal polymer layers with opposite sign of twist.

Abstract: Method for fabrication of vector vortex waveplates of improved quality due to reduced singularity size and widened spectral band, the method comprising creating a boundary condition for vortex orientation pattern of a liquid crystal polymer on a substrate using materials with reversible photoalignment, equalizing exposure energy over the area of the waveplate by redistributing the energy of radiation used for photoalignment from the center of the beam to its peripheries, and using vector vortex waveplate as a linear-to-axial polarization converter. Fabrication of spectrally broadband vector vortex waveplates further comprises two or more liquid crystal polymer layers with opposite sign of twist.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is providing optical systems for controlling with propagation of light beams in lateral and angular space, and through optical apertures. Said light beams include laser beams as well as beams with wide spectrum of wavelengths and large divergence angles. Said optical systems are based on combination of diffractive waveplates with diffractive properties that can be controlled with the aid of external stimuli such as electrical fields, temperature, optical beams and mechanical means.

Abstract: Non-mechanical optical beam steering and switching is produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator with angular magnification by high efficiency volume Bragg gratings recorded in a photosensitive PTR glass. Small angle beam deflection in a photoactive liquid crystal cell is produced by exposing it to a controlling beam from an external source of radiation with predetermined distribution of power density which causes predetermined spatial gradients of a refractive index in a liquid crystal cell and, therefore, refraction of a controlled beam which is made to propagate in the region with spatial gradient of the refractive index. Large angle beam deflection is produced by a volume Bragg grating with angular selectivity adjusted in such way that small angle scanning produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator results in change of diffraction efficiency from zero to 100% for switching the beam for two Bragg angles.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is providing a method and ultra light-weight instruments for controlling propagation of high energy laser beams. The control optical systems are based on gases and techniques for creating gas concentration and flow patterns that modulate the refractive index along the path of propagation of a laser beam.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is providing a method and a simple instrument that can be used on a routine basis to accurately and quickly measure the focus position, waist radius, divergence, quality, power and power density of a laser beam. The measurement is performed by scanning a thin film of a nonlinear optical material in the focal region along the propagation direction of the beam and registering the variation of the on-axis intensity of the laser beam by a photodetector.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is providing a method and a simple instrument that can be used on a routine basis to accurately and quickly measure the focus position, waist radius, divergence, quality, power and power density of a laser beam. The measurement is performed by scanning a thin film of a nonlinear optical material in the focal region along the propagation direction of the beam and registering the variation of the on-axis intensity of the laser beam by a photodetector.