Liquid-crystal variable retarders for aerospace polarimetry applications

Three-dimensional instrument polarization analysis and optimization of liquid-crystal-based Stokes polarimeter

The Stokes polarimeter based on liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) is a space polarization measurement technology widely used. However, due to the tilt of the optic axis of the LCVR with the driving voltage in the direction of light propagation and the interference in LCVR, the LCVRs-based Stokes polarimeter produces a large instrument polarization, which affects the accurate polarization measurement. In this paper, we combine polarization ray tracing with multi-beam interference, and establish a general three-dimensional polarization analysis model of the LCVRs-based Stokes polarimeter. The simulation results of adjusting the LCVR voltage to reduce the instrument polarization are analyzed, and the variation of polarization measurement accuracy with the field of view before and after optimization of the LCVRs-based Stokes polarimeter is simulated and analyzed. A LCVR structure with additional films for matching the refractive index is proposed. According to the simulation results, this structure can significantly reduce the interference effects and reduce the impact of variations in liquid crystal layer thickness on the interference effects.

Liquid-crystal based drift-free polarization modulators: Part I. Design and operation

We report a new design for temperature-stable polarization modulators. Each modulator is composed of two liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) positioned in such a way that their temperature drifts mutually compensate. We propose a model for the temperature-dependent polarization response of LCVRs, which permits us to establish expressions for the operating point of the system and for its accessible retardance range. We have validated such a model experimentally by thorough analyses of LCVR temperature responses, and we have built a polarization modulator that is stable over a wide range of temperature with commercially available LCVRs.

Effect of Low-Doses of Gamma Radiation on Electric Arc-Induced Long Period Fiber Gratings

This work presents an experimental study on the effects of gamma radiation on Long Period Fiber Gratings (LPFGs) in a low-dose test campaign to evaluate their eventual degradation. The study was carried out with standard single-mode fibers where the grating was inscribed using the Electric-Arc Discharge (EAD) technique. Before the gamma campaign, a detailed optical characterization was performed with repeatability tests to verify the accuracy of the setup and the associated error sources. The gamma-induced changes up to a dose of 200 krad and the recovery after radiation were monitored with the Dip Wavelength Shift (DWS). The results show that the gamma sensitivity for a total dose of 200 krad is 11 pm/krad and a total DWS of 2.3 nm has been observed with no linear dependence. Post-radiation study shows that recovery from radiation-induced wavelength shift is nearly complete in about 4000 h. Experimental results show that the changes suffered under gamma irradiation of these LPFGs are temporary making them a good choice as sensors in space applications.

Hybrid Orthorhombic Carbon Flakes Intercalated with Bimetallic Au-Ag Nanoclusters: Influence of Synthesis Parameters on Optical Properties

Until recently, planar carbonaceous structures such as graphene did not show any birefringence under normal incidence. In contrast, a recently reported novel orthorhombic carbonaceous structure with metal nanoparticle inclusions does show intrinsic birefringence, outperforming other natural orthorhombic crystalline materials. These flake-like structures self-assemble during a laser-induced growth process. In this article, we explore the potential of this novel material and the design freedom during production. We study in particular the dependence of the optical and geometrical properties of these hybrid carbon-metal flakes on the fabrication parameters. The influence of the laser irradiation time, concentration of the supramolecular complex in the solution, and an external electric field applied during the growth process are investigated. In all cases, the self-assembled metamaterial exhibits a strong linear birefringence in the visible spectral range, while the wavelength-dependent attenuation was found to hinge on the concentration of the supramolecular complex in the solution. By varying the fabrication parameters one can steer the shape and size of the flakes. This study provides a route towards fabrication of novel hybrid carbon-metal flakes with tailored optical and geometrical properties.

Estimation of order parameter of a liquid crystal variable retarder using Haller's approximation

We use a liquid crystal variable retarder (LCVR) for polarization modulation of the input beam in a polarimeter intended for solar observations. It is known that the retardance of LCVR depends on the voltage and temperature. Voltage at a constant temperature is used for fast modulation. However, fluctuations in the temperature reduce the accuracy in the polarimetric measurements. In order to understand these, we have performed calibration of the LCVR with respect to temperature and estimated the different parameters, critical exponent (β), maximum retardance (δ₀), and order parameter (S) of the liquid crystal using Haller's approximation. We also study the dependence of these parameters with voltage. It is observed that the change in order parameter with change in temperature varies linearly with voltage in the range of 1-7 V.

Characterization of optical polarization properties for liquid crystal-based retarders

We present the analysis and implementation of a set of experimental procedures to characterize optical polarization properties as a function of the applied voltage for liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) in the transmission mode. The studied properties are those involved in the operation of the LCVRs and, generally, are the most significant for optical applications: retardance, diattenuation, optical axes position, and output depolarization effects. The correct characterization of these polarization properties can be useful to improve results or estimate errors in applications using these devices. The results obtained show good accuracy and good agreement with the expected results.

Polarimetric characterization of birefringent filter components

Over the past 75 years, birefringent filter technology has evolved significantly. For nearly that same period of time, these filters have been designed and used by solar scientists to study the Sun. Prior to assembling these types of filters, each component, e.g., polarizers and wave plates, is characterized to determine its polarimetric parameters to ensure the desired filter design performance. With time and cost becoming an ever increasing issue, it is imperative to test components designated for a birefringent filter efficiently. This article addresses a shift to increased efficiency when testing components of very low volume (<5 units) solar research filters that minimizes high-priced hardware expenditures, i.e., Mueller matrix spectropolarimeter.

Mueller-matrix polarimeter using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders

A method for using liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) with continually varying voltage to measure the complete Mueller matrix of a general sample is presented. The LCVRs are usually employed with fixed retardance values due to the nonlinear voltage-retardance behavior that they show. For the measurement method presented here, the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship is first measured, and then a linear fit of the known retardance terms to the detected signal is performed. For a gap of air, the measurement error in the Mueller-matrix polarimeter is estimated at 1%-10%, depending on the Mueller-matrix element. Also, we present experimental results for a Glan-Thompson prism polarizer as a test sample, and we use the measured Mueller parameters as functions of the orientation of the optical axes of the polarizer as an indication of the quality of the polarimeter. In addition, results are compared to a typical step-voltage method to measure the Mueller matrix. Both methods give good results.

In situ calibration of tunable filters: Lyot and Michelson

Solar imaging optical filter technology has progressed significantly over the past 75 years, and the ability to tune narrowband filters is particularly valuable for solar atmosphere sensing. For example, imaging while tuning over a narrow solar spectral line (emission or absorption) provides two-dimensional measurements of Doppler shifts and magnetic fields. While tuning ability has improved significantly, tuning accuracy can be a challenge over time given system actuator drifts. For many cases, the ability to calibrate these actuators in situ is convenient and cost effective (e.g., ground-based observatories), and for other cases it is required (e.g., in a spacecraft). It is ideal to calibrate in situ without the need for additional hardware such as a spectrometer, and if that cannot be achieved, the next best thing is to do so with minimum additional hardware. Two examples of solar filters that need to be calibrated periodically are: (1) a liquid crystal variable retarder Lyot filter and (2) a tunable Michelson interferometer. For the first, the filter can have a number of stages back-to-back to achieve the desired finesse. Within each stage there is a liquid crystal variable retarder that adds some amount of retardance to the stage's fixed birefringent crystal; this provides wavelength bandpass tuning. For the second, there can be several Michelson interferometers in series each with an actuator to adjust the optical path length in one of its optical paths for tuning. The stacking of these filters implies there is a need to calibrate more than one actuator. An algorithm has been developed to calibrate these types of stacked and nonstacked filters in situ with minimal, if any, hardware additions.

Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders

We present a method for using liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVR's) with continually varying voltage to measure the Stokes vector of a light beam. The LCVR's are usually employed with fixed retardance values due to the nonlinear voltage-retardance behavior that they show. The nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship is first measured and then a linear fit of the known retardance terms to the detected signal is performed. We use known waveplates (half-wave and quarter-wave) as devices to provide controlled polarization states to the Stokes polarimeter and we use the measured Stokes parameters as functions of the orientation of the axes of the waveplates as an indication of the quality of the polarimeter. Results are compared to a Fourier analysis method that does not take into account the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship and also to a Fourier analysis method that uses experimental voltage values to give a linear retardance function with time. Also, we present results of simulations for comparison.

Preflight calibration of the Imaging Magnetograph eXperiment polarization modulation package based on liquid-crystal variable retarders

We present the study, characterization, and calibration of the polarization modulation package (PMP) of the Imaging Magnetograph eXperiment (IMaX) instrument, a successful Stokes spectropolarimeter on board the SUNRISE balloon project within the NASA Long Duration Balloon program. IMaX was designed to measure the Stokes parameters of incoming light with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 10³, using as polarization modulators two nematic liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs). An ad hoc calibration system that reproduced the optical and environmental characteristics of IMaX was designed, assembled, and aligned. The system recreates the optical beam that IMaX receives from SUNRISE with known polarization across the image plane, as well as an optical system with the same characteristics of IMaX. The system was used to calibrate the IMaX PMP in vacuum and at different temperatures, with a thermal control resembling the in-flight one. The efficiencies obtained were very high, near theoretical maximum values: the total efficiency in vacuum calibration at nominal temperature was 0.972 (1 being the theoretical maximum). The condition number of the demodulation matrix of the same calibration was 0.522 (0.577 theoretical maximum). Some inhomogeneities of the LCVRs were clear during the pixel-by-pixel calibration of the PMP, but it can be concluded that the mere information of a pixel-per-pixel calibration is sufficient to maintain high efficiencies in spite of inhomogeneities of the LCVRs.

Fast-axis orientation dependence on driving voltage for a Stokes polarimeter based on concrete liquid-crystal variable retarders

Nowadays liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) are widely used in optical systems because of their capacity to provide a controlled variable optical retardance by means of an applied voltage, without the need of any moving mechanical part. Nevertheless, the main disadvantages of these components, reported by users in several papers, are the necessity of using a temperature control system for precise measurements, the degradation under UV irradiation, and the lack of spatial retardance homogeneity. In this paper, we report that the orientation of the LCVR fast axis may also be dependent on applied voltage. The consideration of this phenomenon improves the performances of an imaging polarimeter. In this work, we present the problem, introduce the method of calibration that was used for the experiment, and discuss the results.

Optical inspection of liquid crystal variable retarder inhomogeneities

Liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) are starting to be widely used in optical systems because of their capacity to provide a controlled variable optical retardance between two orthogonal components of incident polarized light or to introduce a known phase shifting (PS) between coherent waves, both by means of an applied voltage. Typically, the retardance or PS introduced by an LCVR is not homogeneous across the aperture. On the one hand, the LCVR glass substrates present a global bend that causes an overall variation of the retardance or PS. On the other hand, in the manufacturing process of an LCVR, there sometimes appears a set of micro-air bubbles that causes local retardance or PS inhomogeneities. In this work, we present an interferometric technique based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer that is insensitive to vibrations and capable of inspecting and characterizing the LCVR's retardance or PS inhomogeneities. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated in the experimental results, where the LCVR retardance is measured with an error of about 0.2 rad. The thickness of possible micro-air bubbles is obtained with a resolution of about 50 nm.