Aerogel Waveplates
P. Bhupathi, J. Hwang, R. M. Martin, J. Blankstein, L. Jaworski, N., Mulders, D. B. Tanner, Y. Lee
TL;DR
This study investigates the use of uniaxially strained high porosity silica aerogels as tunable waveplates, demonstrating their large, reversible birefringence and potential for broad spectral applications.
Contribution
It introduces a novel application of high porosity silica aerogels as tunable waveplates controlled by uniaxial strain.
Findings
Large birefringence proportional to compression
Reversible and reproducible birefringence cycles
Potential for broad spectral range applications
Abstract
Optical transmission measurements were made on 98% porosity silica aerogel samples under various degrees of uniaxial strain. Uniaxially compressed aerogels exhibit large birefringence, proportional to the amount of compression, up to the 15% strain studied. The birefringence is mostly reversible and reproducible through multiple compression-decompression cycles. Our study demonstrates that uniaxially strained high porosity aerogels can be used as tunable waveplates in a broad spectral range.
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