Integrated model of liquid crystal-clad waveguide for non-mechanical beam steering

H. G. Gotjen; J. Kolacz; C. P. McGinty; A. Clabeau; R. Y. Bekele; J. D. Myers; J. A. Frantz; C. M. Spillmann

doi:10.1117/12.2529772

16 September 2019 Integrated model of liquid crystal-clad waveguide for non-mechanical beam steering

H. G. Gotjen, J. Kolacz, C. P. McGinty, A. Clabeau, R. Y. Bekele, J. D. Myers, J. A. Frantz, C. M. Spillmann

Proceedings Volume 11129, Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications IX; 111290O (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2529772
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The heightened demand for non-mechanical approaches to beam redirection and steering has led to several electro-optical approaches. One with great potential integrates liquid crystal (LC) as a cladding layer to a planar waveguide for continuous two dimensional steering. The birefringence of LC is leveraged to tune the waveguide effective leading to refractive steering, while efficient coupling with a freespace beam is accomplished with a “tapered gap” prism coupler. The out-coupled beam can be steered by refraction in a continuous manner to follow a path or address random points with sub millisecond response times. This device architecture presents a challenge for modeling and simulation with a large parameter space. Experimental successes have motivated a custom MATLAB model that couples LC and waveguide physics. The model simulates the distortion of the nematic LC and uses the graded index profile at the cell boundary to solve the waveguide equation as a function of applied voltage. Raytracing methods are used to track the refraction of an input beam through regions of tunable waveguide index and predict the angular field of regard (FOR). Numerical simulations of the coupling region predict the coupling efficiency given the conditions of the input beam including arbitrary bandwidth. Comparison of coupling conditions and FOR measurements with empirical results allows us to rapidly prototype a device by optimizing parameters with fast algorithms that maximize the field of regard and throughput efficiency.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

H. G. Gotjen, J. Kolacz, C. P. McGinty, A. Clabeau, R. Y. Bekele, J. D. Myers, J. A. Frantz, and C. M. Spillmann "Integrated model of liquid crystal-clad waveguide for non-mechanical beam steering", Proc. SPIE 11129, Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications IX, 111290O (16 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2529772

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available