Applications look at the use of liquid crystal writable gratings for steering passive radiation

Paul F. McManamon; Edward A. Watson; Terry A. Dorschner; Lawrence J. Barnes

doi:10.1117/12.148094

1 November 1993 Applications look at the use of liquid crystal writable gratings for steering passive radiation

Paul F. McManamon, Edward A. Watson, Terry A. Dorschner, Lawrence J. Barnes

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 32, Issue 11, (November 1993). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.148094

Abstract

Liquid crystal writable grating technology is being developed for beam steering in laser radar systems. We consider the ability of writable gratings to steer broad-spectral-band radiation for use in passive sensors. We find that there is potential for these devices in microscan systems because there is little or no dispersion for the small scan angles required in microscanning. The dispersion that is present is less than the resolution of the sensor considered here. For large angle steering we find that dispersion correction or a narrowing of the spectral bandwidth is required. The degradation in sensitivity resulting from narrowing the spectral bandwidth is considered. We find that a high-quantum-efficiency step-stare sensor with a two-dimensional focal plane array responsive over a narrow spectral width can achieve the same sensitivity as current linear scanning sensors while being able to steer the field of view (FOV) over a larger field of regard with no moving parts. Approaches for dispersion correction and postdetection correction are discussed. A promising approach for steering a narrow FOV with broad spectral content and good resolution is described.

Citation Download Citation

Paul F. McManamon, Edward A. Watson, Terry A. Dorschner, and Lawrence J. Barnes "Applications look at the use of liquid crystal writable gratings for steering passive radiation," Optical Engineering 32(11), (1 November 1993). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.148094

Published: 1 November 1993

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available