FLEXIBLE PRISM FOR DIRECTING SPECTRALLY NARROW LIGHT

摘要

A flexible prism (16) comprised of two thin, rigid, optically transparent plates (10, 14) sandwiching an optically transparent deformable material (12) such as a transparent liquid or a transparent flexible solid. The index of refraction for all of the materials is preferably matched, such that reflections between interfaces are minimized. The liquid/flexible material used in this flexible prism may consist of almost any substantially transparent material that is not rigid like a solid glass. The angles of one or both of the rigid surfaces of the flexible prism can be selectively adjusted with a respect to a spectrally narrow beam of light passing through the prism so as to produce the refraction desired.