Optical Amplifier Based on Liquid Crystal Holographic Fabry-Perot Etalon

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a novel all-optical amplifier device based on a new Amplification of Light by Liquid Crystal Etalon (ALLICE) concept. The key component of this device is a unique holographic Fabry-Perot etalon with optically sensitive dye-doped liquid crystal (LC) filling the cavity. The LC reacts to near-infrared (NIR) radiation but is unaffected by (and does not affect) visible light. The proposed technology is made commercially attractive by its unique integration of low cost producible coherently coupled holographic Bragg reflectors, which ensures that any variation in the LC modulating medium is compensated for in the holographic mirrors, giving ALLICE high sensitivity, resolution, and contrast without expensive, bulky, and heavy optics or high voltage components. In Phase I POC successfully demonstrated the feasibility of ALLICE through modeling and system design, culminating in a proof-of-concept demonstration of conversion and amplification of NIR light around one micron wavelength into 530 nm visible light. In Phase II POC will develop a fieldable prototype optical amplifier device with high spatial resolution and spectral selectivity, overcoming the drawbacks of image intensifier tubes, and allowing see-through for visible-wavelength cockpit light.