Interference wedged structures as light beam splitting elements

Abstract

Based on our experience in the field of the interferential wedge, we present a new competitive application of such optical elements and structures built from them with theoretical description and experimental verification. We have demonstrated that a conventional interferential wedge or a structure of two wedges in compact layered implementation can be used as an attractive simple light power splitting element for a spatially and spectrally narrow light beam (basically a laser beam). The element can provide: 1) precisely and variably controlled ratio of the reflected and transmitted power by simple sliding in its plane of the list-like wedged structure with an apex angle of ~10-5 rad; 2) division practically without energy losses; 3) power ratio control without causing change of propagation direction of the reflected and the transmitted beams that is of essential interest for applications in optical schemes with complex geometry of the beams propagation; no optical properties variation of the reflective layers (mirrors) during the sliding; 4) working at beam power densities of MW/cm2 - GW /cm2 when the optical element is built from optical materials (layers) with high light damage resistivity.