US 12,326,588 B2
Polarization manipulation of free-space electromagnetic radiation fields
Jean-Michel Di Nicola, Livermore, CA (US); Alvin Erlandson, Livermore, CA (US); Joseph A. Menapace, Livermore, CA (US); Gabriel Mennerat, Gif-sur-Yvette (FR); and John Arthur Marozas, Rochester, NY (US)
Assigned to Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US); and University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (US)
Filed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US); and University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/009,029.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/967,774, filed on Jan. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0239893 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 5/30 (2006.01); G01J 4/04 (2006.01); G02B 27/28 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/3083 (2013.01) [G01J 4/04 (2013.01); G02B 27/286 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a laser system configured to produce a laser beam having a fluence of at least 100 mJ/cm2;
a polarimetry system configured to determine an input distribution of input states of polarization of an input electromagnetic radiation field that is associated with the laser beam in an input plane transverse to a beam path of said input electromagnetic radiation field; and
at least one birefringent plate positioned parallel to said input plane and transverse to said beam path, wherein said at least one birefringent plate comprises an eigen-axis orientation and a spatially-varying thickness based at least in part on the input distribution of input states of polarization and configured such that when said input electromagnetic radiation field having said input distribution and having a fluence of at least 100 mJ/cm2 propagates onto said at least one birefringent plate, said at least one birefringent plate will transform said input distribution into a predetermined target output distribution of output states of polarization to output the laser beam with the predetermined target output distribution of output states of polarization;
wherein the at least one birefringent plate includes at least a birefringent plate q that has a spatially-varying thickness at points (x,y) that deviates from a thickness that would provide neutral retardation of an integer multiple of 2π by an amount Δzq(x,y) that is defined by the following equation:

OG Complex Work Unit Math
wherein ne,q is a principal extraordinary refractive index and no,q is a principal ordinary refractive index for the birefringent plate q, wherein λ is a wavelength of the laser beam, and wherein δq(x,y) is the spatially-dependent phase difference between a fast axis and a slow axis at points (x,y) for the birefringent plate q, and wherein the spatially-varying thickness of the at least one birefringent plate produces spatially-dependent phase differences that transform the input distribution of input states of polarization into the predetermined target output distribution of output states of polarization.