LCD Design For Optical Phased Array: Chip Scale Technologies For Laser Communication, Infrared Countermeasure and Telescope Imaging

The liquid crystal beam steering has already found various optical applications such as laser communication, infrared countermeasures and telescope imaging. In 1990s, the optical phased array (OPA) technology is introduced into the beam steering, which expects simple, affordable, lightweight optical sensors offering very precise stabilization, random-access pointing, programmable multiple simultaneous beams, dynamic focus/defocus capability, and moderate to excellent optical power handling capability. In this book, the physics underlying the limits of a particular type of liquid crystal beam steering systems are explored. Three types of beam steering devices that are based on the use of liquid crystal electro-optical elements considered in this book are (1) Liquid Crystal Digital Beam Deflector; (2) Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array; (3) Liquid Crystal De-centered Lens Array. These systems will be introduced and problems with them will be described and studied. Moreover, the OPA grating dispersion in broadband beam steering is also elaborately explored.