Broadband optics for manipulating light beams and images

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is providing optical systems for controlling with propagation of light beams in lateral and angular space, and through optical apertures. Said light beams include laser beams as well as beams with wide spectrum of wavelengths and large divergence angles. Said optical systems are based on combination of diffractive waveplates with diffractive properties that can be controlled with the aid of external stimuli such as electrical fields, temperature, optical beams and mechanical means.

1 . A system for positioning light beams comprising:
 (a) a light source;   (b) a plurality of diffractive waveplates;   (c) means for independently controlling the diffractive properties of individual diffractive waveplates.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source includes means for shaping the light beam it irradiates by controlling one or a combination of its characteristics: divergence, spectral content, polarization, profile. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of diffractive waveplates comprises at least one pair of optically identical diffractive waveplates. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the material properties of at least one in the plurality of diffractive waveplates, including optical anisotropy, optical axis orientation, and layer thickness, can be controlled with one or a combination of the following stimuli: electric field, magnetic field, optical radiation, temperature, mechanical stress. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of diffractive waveplates is deposited sequentially on the same substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for independently controlling the diffractive properties of individual diffractive waveplates include one or the combination of the following: electric field, magnetic field, optical radiation, temperature, mechanical rotation assembly, mechanical displacement assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light beam is produced by a laser source with quasi-monochromatic spectrum. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light beam is produced by a source with broadband angular spectrum. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the diffractive waveplates deflect light with nearly 100% efficiency in a broad spectrum of wavelengths. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the light beam is produced by a source with broadband wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an optical setup for receiving and controlling the light at the output of the plurality of diffractive waveplates, said optical setup including one or a combination of the following: spatial filters, spectral filters, polarizers, diffraction gratings.