Gradient index liquid crystal devices and method of fabrication thereof

摘要

Laser beam apodizers using cholesteric liquid crystals provides soft edge profile by use of two separate cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures with different selective reflection bands which in an overlap region have a gradient index where reflectivity changes as a function of position. The apodizers can be configured as a one-dimensional beam apodizer with a clear aperture which can be mechanically adjusted by slididng two complimentary devices relative to each other, and as a circular beam apodizer.