Abstract
The design of tunable birefringent filters utilizing liquid crystal retarders is discussed. Liquid crystals, which can be manufactured as electrically-variable, true zero-order retarders, can be used in most fixed birefringent filter designs to allow spectral tunability. The wavelength range for liquid crystal retarders includes the entire visible spectrum and most of the near infrared. Typical response times for current devices are approximately 10 ms. Two common filter designs that lend themselves well to liquid crystal variable retarder technology are Lyot and Solc filters. Each of these filters can be tuned to any wavelength within the transmission range of the optical components by incorporating with each fixed birefringent element a liquid crystal retarder capable of varying retardance through one full wavelength. The characteristics of an assembled liquid crystal tunable filter are presented, and design considerations for tunable birefringent filters are discussed.
Published Version
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