Claims
- 1. A device for generating a light beam of a particular polarization from an unpolarized beam of light wherein said device includes:
- means for separating said unpolarized beam into two polarized beams with orthogonal polarizations;
- means for adjusting the relative amplitudes of said polarized beams;
- and means for combining said adjusted beams, wherein said means for adjusting includes:
- individual means for rotating the polarization of each polarized beam by a desired amount;
- individual analyzers for each of said rotated polarized beams;
- and individual means for negating the polarization rotation of said beams by said means for rotating.
- 2. A device for generating a light beam of a particular polarization from an unpolarized beam of light wherein said device includes:
- means for separating said unpolarized beam into two polarized beams with orthogonal polarizations;
- means for adjusting the relative amplitudes of said polarized beams;
- and means for combining said adjusted beams, wherein said means for adjusting includes means for attenuating either or both of said polarized beams, and wherein said means for attenuating comprises:
- individual means for rotating the polarization of each polarized beam by a desired amount;
- individual analyzers for each of said rotated polarized beams;
- and individual means for negating the polarization rotation of said beams by said means for rotating.
- 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said means for separating and for combining is a double refractor.
- 4. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said means for separating and for combining is a double refractor.
- 5. A method of controlling the polarization of a beam of light derived from an unpolarized beam of light, including the steps of:
- separating said unpolarized beam into two beams with orthogonal polarizations;
- selectively adjusting the relative amplitudes of said polarized beams;
- and combining said adjusted beams, wherein the step of selectively adjusting includes the steps of:
- individually rotating the polarization of said two beams;
- transmitting portions of said two beams in accordance with the rotations imparted thereto;
- and negating the polarization rotations of said transmitted beams.
Government Interests
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by the U.S. Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1409711 |
Oct 1975 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Rowe, S. H., "Efficiency Enhancement of Light Modulators", App. Optics, 570, p. 1222. |