Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings

• Company: Meadowlark Optics Inc.
• Type: Diffraction Gratings
• Diameter / Dimension: 8.7mm - 25.4mm
• Applications: Astronomy, Biomedical/Medical, Communications, Industrial, Military, Scientific Research, Other
• Diffraction Type: Narrowband and Broadband
• Substrate Material: Corning EAGLE XG
• Substrate Thickness: 0.02 in. (0.5 mm)
• Wavefront Distortion: ≤ λ/4 RMS at 532 nm (Typical)
• Surface Quality: 60 - 40 scratch-dig

Meadowlark Optics’ Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings utilize spatially varying birefringence to create highly efficient polarization-sensitive gratings. Liquid crystal polarization gratings are also known as geometric phase gratings, Pancharatnam-Berry phase gratings, and diffractive waveplates.

At the wavelength(s), where the birefringent layer provides a half wave of retardation, these transmissive gratings efficiently (> 99.5% typical) diffract circularly polarized light to either the +1 or -1 order depending on the handedness of the incident light. Because of the half wave of retardation, the diffracted light also changes handedness relative to the incident light. Meanwhile, when linearly polarized light is used, the light is evenly split into the two diffracted orders.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Our commercial product line consists of unmounted LCPGs without integrated anti-reflection (AR) coatings so that we can provide customers with the best price. Custom options are available.