Laser beam homogenization based on a multifocal liquid crystal microlens array

Abstract

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, tunable multifocal liquid crystal microlens array (TMLCMA) was fabricated with a triple-electrode structure consisting of a large-hole, a small-hole array, and planar electrodes. The electro-optical performances of the TMLCMA are characterized, demonstrating the monofocal convex, multifocal convex, and multifocal concave functions when the TMLCMA is manipulated with various driving schemes. Furthermore, the homogenization of a laser beam is realized using the fabricated TMLCMA. The multifocal convex and multifocal concave functions of the TMLCMA successfully suppress the lattice phenomenon caused by the monofocal microlens array, homogenize the Gaussian beam to a flattop intensity distribution, and broaden the beam size.