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ECE Seminar* Speaker: Dr. Nelson Tabiryan

When: Friday, November 5, 2021
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: > See description for location
Cost: Free
Description: Topic: The Fourth Generation Optics, The Concept, Materials, Technology, and Applications

Location: Dion 109

ZOOM TELECONFERENCE: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/95751135458

The Seminars is open to the public free of charge.

*For further information, please contact Dr. Yifei Li at 508.999.8841, or via email at yifei.li@umassd.edu
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Changing the way optics is made. Changing the way optics is used.

The Fourth Generation Optics
The Concept, Materials, Technology, and Applications

Nelson Tabiryan

Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co
1300 Lee Road, Orlando, Florida, USA

The Seminar provides an intuitive introduction into the underlying principles of the new generation of optical components and systems, requiring only basic knowledge (or just an interest) in optics. The course will make it evident for attendees that:
- micrometer-thin film coatings may perform as high-power lenses, prisms, spiral phase plates, beam shaper, etc., and in a broad band of wavelengths comparable to that of glass and other transparent optical materials;
- optical functions can be switched on and off with low voltage controls;
- thin film optical components can be combined to provide versatile beam control functions such as all-electronic beam steering with random access capability, switching between multiple focal points and beam shapes, spectral tuning, variable transmission, etc.
- ultralight and ultrathin films may be used as primary optics for very large telescopes for space communication as well as imaging.

The first generation of optics relied on shaping an optically transparent material such as glass.

Modulating refractive index instead of shape - the second generation of optics - allows thinner components but compromises bandwidth. Anisotropic materials make available two more parameters for controlling light beams. LCD industry is exploring one of them, modulation of effective birefringence - the third generation of optics. A recent breakthrough, the fourth generation of optics, relates to patterning optical axis orientation in the plane of anisotropic films. Obtained as thin film coatings on any desired substrate, including plastic, flat or curved, all different varieties of optical functions can now be produced using the same materials and processes. 4G lenses, prisms, vortex waveplates, etc., are thin films of continuous structure allowing low-cost manufacturing just by inducing desired orientation patterns by a touch of polarization modulated light.

Unlike metamaterials, 4G optics provides high efficiency with no haze, is readily scalable to large aperture sizes, it is at a high level of maturity, and is enabling modern applications including LiDARs for auto-navigation, augmented reality displays, adaptive ophthalmic lenses, space telescopes, and even solar sails.

References:
N. Tabiryan, D. Roberts, D. Steeves, and B. Kimball, "4G Optics: New Technology Extends Limits to the Extremes," Photonics Spectra, March, 2017, pp. 46-50.
Hall of Fame Article: N. Tabiryan, et al. "Advances in Transparent Planar Optics: Enabling Large Aperture, Ultrathin Lenses," Adv. Optical Mater. 2001692 (1-24) 2021.

www.beamco.com info@beamco.com Tel: 407-734-5222
Topical Areas: General Public, University Community, College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, STEM