Threaded-chiral media: reflectors for elliptically polarized light

Ian J. Hodgkinson; Qi Hong Wu; Lakshman De Silva; Matthew Arnold

doi:10.1117/12.559144

2 August 2004 Threaded-chiral media: reflectors for elliptically polarized light

Ian J. Hodgkinson, Qi Hong Wu, Lakshman De Silva, Matthew Arnold

Proceedings Volume 5508, Complex Mediums V: Light and Complexity; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.559144
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Effective medium theory is applied to nanoengineered inorganic coatings in which a primary chiral medium (A) threads through a second medium (B) that may be isotropic, birefringent or chiral. In general A and B are represented by thin locally-birefringent layers with axes that rotate through the thickness of the coating. Local properties of the complex medium are represented by a Herpin birefringent period (A/2)B(A/2), with effective principal refractive indices and with thickness much less than the chiral period. The effect of changing the fraction fB of material B is considered. With simplicity of fabrication in mind, the special case in which A and B are identical apart from thickness and azimuthal orientation is developed. Then, by maintaining a constant optical thickness for the Herpin period, the circular Bragg resonant wavelength of the primary medium can be retained. As an example of the potential use of threaded-chiral materials, handed resonant reflectors for elliptically-polarized light are considered.

Citation Download Citation

Ian J. Hodgkinson, Qi Hong Wu, Lakshman De Silva, and Matthew Arnold "Threaded-chiral media: reflectors for elliptically polarized light", Proc. SPIE 5508, Complex Mediums V: Light and Complexity, (2 August 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.559144

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