Direct-write laser-assisted patterning of form birefringence in wave plates fabricated by glancing-angle deposition

Abstract

The development of optics that provide spatial control of birefringence could enable better control of laser beam polarization, but available solutions are limited. Here we demonstrate a method to locally modify the birefringence of wave plates fabricated by glancing-angle deposition. The method employs localized melting of the anisotropic microstructure in a vacuum environment to alter the local birefringence. We demonstrate that this process is only possible under high vacuum to avoid trapping air within the melt zone. The direct-write method presented here can be readily utilized for coatings exhibiting form birefringence of virtually any chemical composition, size, and format.

Laser-damage performance of gallium-alloy liquid metal mirrors

“…To understand the origin of the difference in the oxide induced LIDT under single pulse and 10-Hz exposure (∼1 J∕cm 2 and ∼0.7∕cm 2 , respectively), one-dimensional (1D) modeling of heat transfer in a semi-infinite medium was performed using the formalism presented in Ref. 19. The temperature T as a function of depth z inside the gallium liquid layer and time t assuming a surface heat flux qs ðW∕m 2 Þ from the absorbed laser energy can be expressed as E Q -T A R G E T ; t e m p : i n t r a l i n k -; s e c 3 ; 1 1 7 ; 6 1 5 Tðz; tÞ…”