TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Polarization Manipulation of Free-Space Electromagnetic Radiation Fields

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Polarization Manipulation of Free-Space Electromagnetic Radiation Fields Technology.

Background:

High average power solid-state lasers are performance limited by thermally-induced birefringence inhomogeneities which lead to parasitic de-polarization losses. There is a need for an optical component that can compensate for this parasitic de-polarization.

Description:

This invention proposes fabrication of a sandwich of two or more (typically 3) magneto-rheologically finished (MRF’d) birefringent plates with purpose designed arbitrary surface contour profiles and eigen-axis orientation. The tailored surface contour profiles are designed to compensate for the observed de-polarization characteristics of a particular solid-state laser operating in a particular configuration. This is a different approach from compensation for wavefront distortion which is routinely achieved by surface contouring a non-birefringent material e.g. fused silica.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Ability to arbitrarily control the polarization state of a laser beam over its spatial cross-section
• Ability to fabricate a highly tailored beam polarization state profile corrector
• Ability to convert an arbitrary spatially varying laser beam polarization state into a uniform linear polarization across an entire beam aperture
• Applicable to large aperture plates limited only by the size of available birefringent materials and the MRF machine’s capacity to handle the plate

Potential Applications: 

• Improving performance of high-average power lasers by mitigating parasitic de-polarization losses
• Other applications for polarization control in optical systems and display industries

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 4-5

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2021/0239893 Polarization Manipulation of Free-Space Electromagnetic Radiation Fields published 8/5/2021

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Polarization Manipulation of Free-Space Electromagnetic Radiation Fields Technology  should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Polarization Manipulation of Free-Space Electromagnetic Radiation Fields Technology .

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13351