Patent ID: 6317264
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A thin film polarizing device for operating at one or more predetermined wavelengths and angles of incidence, comprising a functional core consisting of at least two alternating thin film layers of a dielectric and a metal-like material that has a refractive index and extinction coefficient characteristic of a metal such that at said predetermined wavelengths said metal-like material behaves optically like a metal, said alternating thin film layers being sandwiched between a pair of transmissive optical media providing input and output ports, the thicknesses of said layers and the optical constants of said layers and said optical media being selected such at said predetermined wavelengths and angles of incidence the optical admittance of said functional core substantially matches the optical admittance of said optical media for one polarization and has substantially only an imaginary part for the other polarization, whereby light with said one polarization is transmitted, and light with the other polarization is reflected.