AUTOMATIC LASER LIGHT DETECTION AND FILTERING USING A LIQUID CRYSTAL LYOT FILTER

Abstract

A device which acts as both a simple cw laser warner and anti-dazzle protection device has been designed and tested. The design is based on a single stage, double element, tunable liquid crystal Lyot filter. Laboratory tests have shown that the detection sensitivity of the device for monochromatic cw radiation is approximately 43×10−9 W/cm 2 and that the achievable contrast ratio is greater than 100:1 Automatic detection and filtering of a cw laser source has been demonstrated. Results indicate that the algorithm to automatically filter the laser radiation works well and that the extinction obtained is good. Factors which affect the contrast ratio are discussed and improved device design suggested.