A LIQUID CRYSTAL WAVEPLATE TECHNIQUE FOR WAVELENGTH TUNING OF NARROWBAND OPTICAL FILTERS

WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE WAVELENGTH TUNING OF NARROW BANDWIDTH OPTICAL FILTERS USING NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL WAVEPLATES WITH A RETARDANCE THAT IS ELECTRICALLY TUNABLE. THESE TUNABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL WAVEPLATES OR RETARDERS HAVE DISTINCT ADVANTAGES OVER PRESENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THAT THEY PERMIT WAVELENGTH TUNING OF THE FILTER WITH NO MECHANICAL MOTION OR COMPLICATED ELECTROMECHANICAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, THEY TUNE QUICKLY, AND THEY CAN BE MADE IN LARGE CLEAR APERTURES AT A RESONABLE COST. WE WILL COMPLETELY CHARACTERIZE THE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF THESE WAVEPLATES AND EXAMINE THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE PERFORMANCE WITH WHAT IS NEEDED FOR TUNABLE NARROWBAND OPTICAL FILTERS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE WILL DESIGN A SYSTEM FOR COMPUTER CONTROL OF RAPID WAVELENGTH TUNING OF THESE FILTERS, INCORPORATING AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION FOR RELIABLE RESULTS. WE ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO PURSUE THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE BOTH IN MANUFACTURING LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICES AND IN DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING LYOT-TYPE NARROWBAND OPTICAL FILTERS.