Abstract

The Flood Beam Experiment being performed at the Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base involves illuminating satellites with a linearly polarized laser beam. This laser beam reflects from nine components before emerging from the telescope beam director. Each of these components has the possibility of changing the state of polarization from linear to elliptical. The initial state of the linear polarization is maintained if the polarization vector is in or perpendicular to the plane of incidence on each component (p or s polarization, respectively) or if the phase shift on reflection is 0° or 180°. For the optics on the optical bench, it is possible to maintain the polarization state close to s-polarization. For the mirrors that direct the beam, a variety of incidence angles are possible, and reflected phase shifts of close to 180° must be maintained. Tolerances on the position and alignment of the laser table are determined. Based on the measured phase shifts of the mirrors, the actual depolarization of the system is estimated to be less than 0.1%.

© 1992 Optical Society of America