General polarized ray-tracing method for inhomogeneous uniaxially anisotropic media

General polarized ray-tracing method for inhomogeneous uniaxially anisotropic media

Sluijter, M.
De Boer, D.K.G.
Braat, J.J.M.

Applied Sciences

Imaging Science and Technology

2008-05-12

Uniaxial optical anisotropy in the geometrical-optics approach is a classical problem, and most of the theory has been known for at least fifty years. Although the subject appears frequently in the literature, wave propagation through inhomogeneous anisotropic media is rarely addressed. The rapid advances in liquid-crystal lenses call for a good overview of the theory on wave propagation via anisotropic media. Therefore, we present a novel polarized ray-tracing method, which can be applied to anisotropic optical systems that contain inhomogeneous liquid crystals. We describe the propagation of rays in the bulk material of inhomogeneous anisotropic media in three dimensions. In addition, we discuss ray refraction, ray reflection, and energy transfer at, in general, curved anisotropic interfaces with arbitrary orientation and/or arbitrary anisotropic properties. The method presented is a clear outline of how to assess the optical properties of uniaxially anisotropic media.

anisotropic optical materials
liquid crystals
birefringence
inhomogeneous elements in optical systems
ray trajectories in inhomogeneous media
inhomogeneous optical media

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8cd878ae-f5b3-4254-b437-1311738740e6

https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.25.001260

Optical Society of America

1084-7529

http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-25-6-1260

Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 25 (6), 2008

Institutional Repository

journal article

(c) 2008 Optical Society of America