Print Email Facebook Twitter General polarized ray-tracing method for inhomogeneous uniaxially anisotropic media Title General polarized ray-tracing method for inhomogeneous uniaxially anisotropic media Author Sluijter, M. De Boer, D.K.G. Braat, J.J.M. Faculty Applied Sciences Department Imaging Science and Technology Date 2008-05-12 Abstract Uniaxial optical anisotropy in the geometrical-optics approach is a classical problem, and most of the theory has been known for at least fifty years. Although the subject appears frequently in the literature, wave propagation through inhomogeneous anisotropic media is rarely addressed. The rapid advances in liquid-crystal lenses call for a good overview of the theory on wave propagation via anisotropic media. Therefore, we present a novel polarized ray-tracing method, which can be applied to anisotropic optical systems that contain inhomogeneous liquid crystals. We describe the propagation of rays in the bulk material of inhomogeneous anisotropic media in three dimensions. In addition, we discuss ray refraction, ray reflection, and energy transfer at, in general, curved anisotropic interfaces with arbitrary orientation and/or arbitrary anisotropic properties. The method presented is a clear outline of how to assess the optical properties of uniaxially anisotropic media. Subject anisotropic optical materialsliquid crystalsbirefringenceinhomogeneous elements in optical systemsray trajectories in inhomogeneous mediainhomogeneous optical media To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8cd878ae-f5b3-4254-b437-1311738740e6 DOI https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.25.001260 Publisher Optical Society of America ISSN 1084-7529 Source http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-25-6-1260 Source Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 25 (6), 2008 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights (c) 2008 Optical Society of America Files PDF Braat2008.pdf 690.73 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:8cd878ae-f5b3-4254-b437-1311738740e6/datastream/OBJ/view