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Infrared Brewster-angle polarizing beam splitter using a high-index prism with a small wedge angle
Applied Optics
|April 18, 2017
Summary
This study presents a novel polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that generates two orthogonal polarized beams from a single infrared light source. This innovative design avoids wasting the refracted beam, improving optical efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Infrared Technology
Background:
- High-refractive-index substrates enable Brewster angle reflection for linear polarization in the infrared.
- Conventional linear polarizers often discard the refracted beam, leading to reduced efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that generates two orthogonally polarized beams.
- To enhance optical efficiency by utilizing both reflected and refracted beams.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a high-index prism with a small wedge angle to split light.
- Employing a single-layer antireflection coating (ARC) with embedded silver nano-needles.
- Suppressing residual s-polarized light in the refracted beam.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of two orthogonally p and s linearly polarized beams.
- Demonstration of a PbTe prism with ZnSe ARC for mid-infrared applications.
- Suppression of unwanted s-polarized transmission.
Conclusions:
- The developed PBS offers an efficient method for generating orthogonally polarized beams in the infrared.
- The integration of ARC with nano-needles effectively minimizes residual polarization.
- This technology has potential applications in infrared optics and instrumentation.