Boulder Nonlinear Systems named as a finalist for the 2016 Prism Award
LAFAYETTE, Colorado | November 25, 2015
Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) is pleased to announce their selection as a finalist for the 2016 Prism Awards. Their liquid crystal polarization grating technology has been nominated in the category of “Optics and Optical Components.” The winners will be announced at the SPIE Photonics West conference on February 17th.
Multi-stage Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings (LCPGs) are used for non-mechanical beam steering. LCPGs are thin transmissive optical elements that provide polarization-sensitive diffractive beam steering. By controlling the polarization state of light as it progresses through a stack of LCPG elements, light can be efficiently (up to >99%) steered through a wide array of discrete angles. This non-mechanical approach enables fast random-access beam steering while greatly reducing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements in comparison to traditional optical steering systems, such as gimbals and scanning mirrors.
The low SWaP requirements and potential for integration into aerodynamic form factors make LCPGs attractive for many high-performance applications. BNS is already putting this technology into practice in a number of different areas, including laser radar, passive imaging in both the visible and infrared bands, headlight steering, and wind sensing.