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US4531216A
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Azimuthally polarized beam quality improvement system
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-14
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Granted: 1985-07-23
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Expires: 2001-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A two-mirror system for transforming an azimuthally or linearly polarized laser beam into a beam having a number of sections, the average phase and polarization of each section being substantially similar. Both mirrors are segmented into eight pie-shaped sections, each of which contains a coating that gives a ±90° phase shift or the appropriate uniform optical path difference.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn A. Tyler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising a plurality of mirrors, each mirror comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising a plurality of mirrors, each mirror comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of mirrors comprises: a first mirror having a first plurality of sections coated to produce a phase shift, and a second plurality of sections coated to apply an optical path difference; and a second mirror having a first plurality of sections coated to produce a phase shift, and a second plurality of sections coated to apply an optical path difference, said first and second plurality of sections of said second mirror being in optical alignment with said first and second plurality of sections of said first mirror.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising: a first mirror comprising a first eight radially disposed sections coated so as to produce a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a λ/4 phase shift, sequentially; and a second mirror comprising eight radially disposed sections optically aligned so as to correspond with said first secions and coated so as to produce a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, sequentially.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising: a first mirror comprising a first eight radially disposed sections coated so as to produce a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a λ/4 phase shift, sequentially; and a second mirror comprising eight radially disposed sections optically aligned so as to correspond with said first secions and coated so as to produce a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, sequentially.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of creating a substantially circularly polarized beam, comprising the steps of: lasting an azimuthally polarized beam; and reflecting said azimuthally polarized beam off a plurality of mirrors, each of said mirrors comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of creating a substantially circularly polarized beam, comprising the steps of: lasting an azimuthally polarized beam; and reflecting said azimuthally polarized beam off a plurality of mirrors, each of said mirrors comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said reflecting step comprises the steps of: reflecting the azimuthally polarized beam off of a first mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 phase shift; and reflecting the resultant beam off a second mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical phase difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical phase difference.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising the step of: reflecting said azimuthally polarized beam off a plurality of mirrors, each of said mirrors comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirrors in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam, comprising the step of: reflecting said azimuthally polarized beam off a plurality of mirrors, each of said mirrors comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes said mirrors in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam comprising the steps of: reflecting the azimuthally polarized beam off of a first mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 phase shift; and reflecting the resultant beam off of a second mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical phase difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical phase difference.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circularly polarized beam comprising the steps of: reflecting the azimuthally polarized beam off of a first mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 phase shift; and reflecting the resultant beam off of a second mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical phase difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical phase difference.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circular polarized beam, comprising: a first mirror comprising a first eight radially disposed sections coated so as to produce a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a λ/4 phase shift, sequentially; and a second mirror comprising a second eight radially disposed section aligned so as to be optically aligned with said first sections and coated so as to produce a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, sequentially, said mirror sections dividing the azimuthally polarized beam into eight beams each of which is reflected from a set of mirror sections one of which is on the first mirror and the other of which is on the second mirror, the set of sections for each beam being a different set from any of the others, each set including an optical path difference section and a phase shift section.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circular polarized beam, comprising: a first mirror comprising a first eight radially disposed sections coated so as to produce a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a λ/4 phase shift, sequentially; and a second mirror comprising a second eight radially disposed section aligned so as to be optically aligned with said first sections and coated so as to produce a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, sequentially, said mirror sections dividing the azimuthally polarized beam into eight beams each of which is reflected from a set of mirror sections one of which is on the first mirror and the other of which is on the second mirror, the set of sections for each beam being a different set from any of the others, each set including an optical path difference section and a phase shift section.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circular polarized beam comprising the steps of: reflecting the linearly polarized beam off a first mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a 31 90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 shift; and reflecting the resultant beam off of a second mirror having eight radially disposed, coated-sections sequentially comprised of λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical phase difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, said mirror sections dividing the azimuthally polarized beam into eight beams each of which is reflected from a set of mirror sections one of which is on the first mirror and the other of which is on the second mirror, the set of sections for each beam being a different set from any of the others, each set including an optical path difference section and a phase shift section.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of converting an azimuthally polarized beam into a circular polarized beam comprising the steps of: reflecting the linearly polarized beam off a first mirror having eight radially disposed, coated sections sequentially comprised of a 31 90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 shift; and reflecting the resultant beam off of a second mirror having eight radially disposed, coated-sections sequentially comprised of λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical phase difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, and a 180° optical path difference, said mirror sections dividing the azimuthally polarized beam into eight beams each of which is reflected from a set of mirror sections one of which is on the first mirror and the other of which is on the second mirror, the set of sections for each beam being a different set from any of the others, each set including an optical path difference section and a phase shift section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
195 words
A laser system for generating a uniformly circularly polarized beam, said laser system comprising: means for emitting an azimuthally polarized beam of laser light; and a plurality of mirrors external of said laser means for converting said azimuthally polarized beam into a uniformly circularly polarized beam, each mirror comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes each said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
195 words
A laser system for generating a uniformly circularly polarized beam, said laser system comprising: means for emitting an azimuthally polarized beam of laser light; and a plurality of mirrors external of said laser means for converting said azimuthally polarized beam into a uniformly circularly polarized beam, each mirror comprising a substrate and a plurality of reflective coatings applied to said substrate in angular sections, said mirrors positioned so that said azimuthally polarized beam strikes each said mirror in succession and so that a respective portion of said azimuthally polarized beam striking an angular section of a first mirror strikes a corresponding angular section of a succeeding mirror, said corresponding angular sections forming aligned sets of angular sections, at least one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase shift within the corresponding portion of said beam, and at least another one of said reflective coatings of each aligned set providing a phase delay within the corresponding portion of said beam so that all said portions of said beam upon completion of a passage of said beam through said plurality of mirrors are substantially in phase and circularly polarized in the same direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laser system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of mirrors includes: a first mirror having a first plurality of angular sections coated to produce a phase shift, and a second plurality of angular sections coated to apply an optical path difference; and a second mirror having a first plurality of sections coated to produce a phase shift, and a second plurality of sections coated to apply an optical path difference, said first and second plurality of sections of said first mirror being in optical alignment with the said first and second plurality of sections of said second mirror, respectively, wherein a phase shift coating on said first mirror corresponds with an optical path difference coating on said second mirror and an optical path difference coating on said first mirror corresponds with phase shift coatings on said second mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
The laser of claim 11, wherein said coatings comprise materials producing, on the sections of said first mirror, a -90° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 90° optical path difference, a -λ/4 path shift, a 270° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a -270° optical path difference, and a -λ/4 phase shift, sequentially, and on the sections of said second mirror produce a λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a -λ/4 phase shift, a 0° optical path difference, a λ/4 phase shift, a 180° optical path difference, a -λ/4 path shift, and a 180° optical path difference, sequentially.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser system of claim 10 wherein said laser is a chemical laser having at least one axicon mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4312570A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-22 | 1989-01-21 | 1989-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-22 | 1993-01-21 | 1993-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-22 | 1997-01-21 | 1997-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |