High Contrast Optical Shutter

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$1,716.00$4,202.00

Key Features

  • High contrast
  • No mechanical motion
  • Computer control capacity
  • No vibration
This liquid crystal shutter is a vibration-free alternative to a mechanical shutter that is especially convenient for use in polarized light beams. The liquid crystal switches between a state that rotates the input polarization by 90° with no voltage applied and a state that makes no change in the input polarization with 8 to 10 volts applied. The applied voltage is 2 kHz AC as supplied by our D5020 or B1010 liquid crystal drivers. The liquid crystal configuration is twisted nematic. The shutter is supplied with integral dichroic visible polarizers that function over the wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm to provide an average contrast ratio of better than 1,000:1 over this wavelength range. Shutters with larger aperture sizes and with wavelength coverage to 2.1 microns are available on a custom basis. Please call with your special requirements.

Common Specifications

Liquid Crystal Configuration: Twisted nematic

Substrate Material: Optical quality synthetic fused silica

Polarizer Material: Dichroic polymer

Contrast Ratio (average): 1,000:1

Angular Field of View: 25˚ incidence angle with some reduction above 10˚

Switching Time (10% to 90%) at room temperature – 

     Closed to Open: 5 milliseconds, Open to Closed: 0.4 milliseconds

Transmitted Wavefront Distortion (P – V at 632.8 nm): ≤ λ/2
Surface Quality: 60 – 40 scratch-dig

Reflectance (per surface): ≤ 0.5 % at normal incidence

Beam Deviation: ≤ 5 arc min

Recommended Safe Operating Limit: 1 W/cm², CW

Glass Thickness: 0.48 – 0.52 in.

Polarization Direction: Vertical on input face, horizontal on output face

Storage Temperature: – 20 ˚C to + 80 ˚C

Operating Temperature: 0 ˚C to + 50 ˚C

Size
Wavelength (nm)
Wavelength Range (nm)
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Item #
Size
Optimized Wavelength
Wavelength Range
Clear Aperture
Thickness
Lead Time
Price
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LCS-100-VIS
1.000 in. (25.40 mm)
632.8
405-700
0.370 in. (9.4 mm)
1.415 in. (35.94 mm)
2 weeks
$1,716.00
LCS-100-IR1
1.000 in. (25.40 mm)
785
650-950
0.370 in. (9.4 mm)
1.415 in. (35.94 mm)
2 weeks
$1,716.00
LCS-100-IR2
1.000 in. (25.40 mm)
1064
900-1250
0.370 in. (9.4 mm)
1.415 in. (35.94 mm)
2 weeks
$1,716.00
LCS-100-IR3
1.000 in. (25.40 mm)
1550
1200-1700
0.370 in. (9.4 mm)
1.415 in. (35.94 mm)
2 weeks
$1,716.00
LCS-200-VIS
2.000 in. (50.80 mm)
632.8
405-700
0.700 in. (17.8 mm)
1.125 in. (28.58 mm)
2 weeks
$2,585.00
LCS-200-IR1
2.000 in. (50.80 mm)
785
650-950
0.700 in. (17.8 mm)
1.125 in. (28.58 mm)
2 weeks
$2,585.00
LCS-200-IR2
2.000 in. (50.80 mm)
1064
900-1250
0.700 in. (17.8 mm)
1.125 in. (28.58 mm)
2 weeks
$2,585.00
LCS-200-IR3
2.000 in. (50.80 mm)
1550
1200-1700
0.700 in. (17.8 mm)
1.125 in. (28.58 mm)
2 weeks
$2,585.00
LCS-300-VIS
3.000 in. (76.2 mm)
632.8
405-700
1.600 in. (40.64 mm)
1.710 in. (43.43 mm)
2 weeks
$4,202.00
LCS-300-IR1
3.000 in. (76.2 mm)
785
650-950
1.600 in. (40.64 mm)
1.710 in. (43.43 mm)
2 weeks
$4,202.00
12

High Contrast Optical Shutter

SPECIFICATIONS

Liquid Crystal Configuration

Twisted nematic

Substrate Material

Optical quality synthetic fused silica

Polarizer Material

Dichroic polymer

Wavelength Range

450 – 700 nm

Contrast Ratio (average)

1,000:1

Angular Field of View

25˚ incidence angle with some reduction above 10˚

Switching Time (10% to 90%) at room temperature

Closed to Open:

Open to Closed:

5 milliseconds

0.4 milliseconds

Transmitted Wavefront Distortion (at 632.8 nm)

≤ λ/2

Surface Quality

60 – 40 scratch-dig

Reflectance (per surface)

≤ 0.5 % at normal incidence

Beam Deviation

≤ 5 arc min

Recommended Safe Operating Limit

1 W/cm², CW

Glass Thickness

0.48 – 0.52 in.

Polarization Direction

Vertical on input face, horizontal on output face

Storage Temperature

– 20 ˚C to + 80 ˚C

Operating Temperature

0 ˚C to + 50 ˚C

Ordering Information – Contact Us or Buy Online

ORDERING INFORMATION

Diameter in. (mm)

Clear Aperture in. (mm)

Thickness in. (mm)

Part Number

1.00 (25.4 mm)

0.37(9.4 mm)

1.23 (31.24 mm)

LCS – 100 – λ

2.00 (50.8 mm)

0.70 (17.8 mm)

0.75 (19.05 mm)

LCS – 200 – λ

3.00 (76.2 mm)

1.60 (40.64 mm)

1.00 (25.4 mm)

LCS – 300 – λ

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Liquid Crystal Device Operating Principles

Liquid Crystal Selection Guide

request a custom quote or get technical answers

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