Use of principal states of polarization of a liquid crystal device to achieve a dynamical modulation of broadband beams.
A spatially resolved polarization switcher operating over a bandwidth of 200 nm is demonstrated. The system is based on liquid crystal technology and no specific-purpose birefringent element is required. The procedure is founded on the polarization mode dispersion theory of optical fibers, which provides a convenient framework for the design of broadband polarization systems. Our device benefits from the high resolution of off-the-shelf twisted nematic liquid crystal displays and is well suited for spatial modulation of the intensity of broadband beams, such as those coming from few-cycle femtosecond lasers.
Durán
Vicente
V
Departament de Física, GROC-UJI, E12071 Castelló, Spain. vduran@sg.uji.es
Clemente
Pere
P
Lancis
Jesús
J