Polarization Characteristic Analysis Of Orthogonal Reflectors With A Side-Scanning Galvanometer In A Laser Communication Terminal System

An alignment tolerance allocation and alignment method of orthogonal reflectors with high polarization-maintaining characteristics is presented. A geometric optics vector model of orthogonal reflectors is established to derive the propagation vector of the output beam, including pitch angle error of the first mirror, the side-scanning angle of the galvanometer, and rotation angle error of the secondary mirror. The polarization transmission matrix of the orthogonal reflectors is derived based on the 3D polarization ray-tracing algorithm to present the relationship between assembly errors and diattenuation or retardance of the orthogonal reflectors. A calculation example of certain polarization ellipticity error is given to quantitatively distribute the orthogonal mirror assembly error. The optimal side-sway angle selection method of the galvanometer side-sway angle in a laser communication system is presented; further, effective measures to minimize the polarization ellipticity error is put forward. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America