Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings use spatially varying birefringence to create highly efficient polarization-sensitive gratings. Circularly polarized light will see a positive or negative lens depending on the handedness of the incident light. By using an alternating stack of LCPGs and half-waveplate switches, we can produce large discrete focus changes in <40 μs.

Benefits of LCPG Lens Remote Focusing:

• Low size, weight, and power
• <40 μs fast direction
• <3 ms slow direction
• Robust non-mechanical operation
• Large apertures possible (>5 cm)
• High diffraction efficiency (>99%)
• Simple microscope integration
• Demonstrated in VIS to MWIR
• Broadband systems possible