The objective of this proposal is to create a new type of a complex holographic element which is an extremely narrow band lens or curved mirror created in a phase holographic medium, which is a photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass. Those elements will be used for imaging concurrently with the spectral selection, at a sub-nanometer level, of wavelengths within the visible and near-UV spectra. This innovation is based on thick phase holograms recorded in the bulk of a photosensitive glass, and nonlinear properties of this material. Proposed development will widen applications of PTR glass technology. Limitations imposed by current recording technique based on UV recoding will be overcome. OptiGrate will use patented and exclusively licensed technology from the University of Central Florida for the development. OptiGrate has successfully commercialized a technology of high efficient planar reflective Bragg gratings (RBGs) with spectral resolution of less than 0.1 nm. Within scope of this project technology of narrow band filters with large field of view will be established.
Benefit: Phase I of the proposed project will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed innovative concept of narrow band filters with wide field of view in PTR glass. Optical elements that will be developed under scope of this project will have wide range of applications in various optical systems were detection of narrow band signal is needed such as: intracavity mode selectors, LIDARs, astronomical filters, hyperspectral imaging, etc. Key advantage of developed technology compared to competing holographic technologies will be: reduced spectral bandwidth, high value of laser induced damage threshold, capability to operate in kilowatt class laser beams, high environmental stability, and unrestricted life time. Above advantages paved the way for successful commercialization by OptiGrate Corp of PTR glass technology based UV recording. Same concept will be applied for commercialization of holographic optical elements with large field of view. For example efficiency of imaging systems such as hyperspectral will be significantly increased since proposed technology can provide elements with field of view matched to designed telescope/objective.
Keywords: holographic optical elements, holographic optical elements, volume Bragg grating, Narrow band filters, photo-thermo-refractive glass, diffraction efficiency
