High-efficiency large-angle Pancharatnam phase deflector based on dual-twist design

We have previously shown through simulation that an optical beam deflector based on the Pancharatnam (geometric) phase can provide high efficiency with up to 80 degrees deflection using a dual-twist structure for polarization-state control [Appl. Opt. 54, 10035 (2015)]. In this report, we demonstrate that its optical performance is as predicted and far beyond what could be expected for a conventional diffractive optical device. We provide details about construction and characterization of a +/- 40 degrees beam-steering device with 90% diffraction efficiency based on our dual-twist design at a 633nm wavelength. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America