To meet the Navy need for a Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) for laser beam homogenization at spectral window from 0.9 m to 6 m, Luminit, LLC, proposes to develop the Uniform Diffuser Composed of Cascaded CGHs (UNIC). UNIC, will be composed of several DOEs in a form of Computer Generated Holograms, designed digitally and arranged in a stacked setup with separation distance less than a millimeter. Thus, the cascaded CGHs can use free space propagation between these elements to handle the large spectral width and can exhibit a superior performance in uniformizing input beam, regardless of the beams starting spatial configuration. In Phase I, a single diffractive CGH will be demonstrated and spectral dependence will be investigated further. In Phase II, we will fabricate and demonstrate the UNIC system with 3 or 4 elements for the desired parameters for the agency. Thus, after completion, we believe that UNIC will provide innovative solutions to the beam homogenizers of the next generation.
Benefit: After completion, UNIC will be a convenient component for illumination for platforms on aircraft carriers, as designed, upon attaching directly in front of fiber optic cables. Furthermore, this invention can find extensive use in crucial beam shaping applications in defense, IT, communications, entertainment, and interior and exterior illumination.
Keywords: beam uniformization., beam uniformization., Cascaded diffractive optical elements, diffractive optical elements, Computer generated holograms
