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| | | Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator | | |
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| | | Maximum transmission is dependent upon properties of the Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder as well as the polarizers used in your system. An unpolarized light source is used for illumination. Contrast ratio is defined as the maximum transmission (obtained with the liquid crystal cell at half-wave operation) divided by the minimum transmission (obtained with the liquid crystal cell at zero waves). Values exceeding 1000:1 (see figure 4-14) can be obtained for a single wavelength by optimizing the applied voltage levels for minimum and maximum transmission. We guarantee a minimum contrast ratio of 500:1 at your specified wavelength. | | |
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| | | [eadowlark Optics' Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator offers real-time, continuous control of light intensity. Our attenuator consists of a Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder (with attached compensator) operating between crossed linear polarizers. | | |
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| | | 100 80 f 60 3 1 40 ~ 20 | | |
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| | | Linear Polarized Output | | |
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| | | Unpolarized Input | | |
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| | | Exit Polarizer | | |
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| | | Compensated Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder | | |
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| | | Entrance Polarizer | | |
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| | | 2468 Voltage (volts rms) | | 10 | | |
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| | | Fig.4-12 Normalized transmittance of Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator with crossed linear polarizers at a single wavelength | | |
| | | Fig. 4-11 Standard Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator design uses crossed linear polarizers. | | |
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| | | With crossed polarizers, light transmission is maximized by applying the correct voltage to achieve half-wave retardance from the liquid crystal cell as shown in figure 4-11. Half-wave operation rotates the incoming polarization direction by 90°, so that light is passed by the second polarizer. Minimum transmission is obtained with the retarder operating at zero (or a whole number of) waves. Transmission decreases as the applied AC voltage amplitude increases (half- to zero-waves retardance). The relationship between transmittance T and retardance 8 (in degrees) for crossed polarizer configuration is given by: T(8) = 1/2 [1 - cos(8)] Tmax where Tmax is the maximum transmittance when retardance is exactly one-half wave (or 180°). | | |
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| | | 30 p | | |
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| | | 20 P | | |
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| | | 10h- | | |
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| | | 500 600 700 Wavelength (nm) | | |
| | | 400 | | | 800 | | |
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| | | Fig. 4-13 Transmittance as a function of wavelength for Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator, optimized for 550 nm, with polarizers and unpolarized input | | |
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| | | mecicloulcirk optics | | |
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| | | Tel (303) 833-4333 • Fax (303) 833-4335 | | e-mail: sales@meadowlark.com | | |
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