Fabrication of liquid crystal polymer axial waveplates for UV-IR wavelengths

We show the opportunity of fabricating axially symmetric waveplates fine tuned to a desired wavelength. High quality waveplates are obtained using liquid crystal polymer layers on photoaligning substrates extending their functional range from UV to IR wavelengths. We characterize the effect of the waveplate on laser beams showing formation of a doughnut beam with over 240 times attenuation of intensity on the axis. We pay attention that the power density is strongly reduced on the doughnut ring as well and use this opportunity for taking charge coupled devices (CCDs) out of a deep saturation regime. Strong deformation of the beam profile is observed when the vortex axis is shifted towards the periferies of the beam. We demonstrate feasibility of using this phenomenon for shaping the profile of light beams with a set of waveplates. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America