Highly angular resolving beam separator based on total internal reflection

Abstract

We present an optical element for the separation of superimposed beams which only differ in angle. The beams are angularly resolved and separated by total internal reflection at an air gap between two prisms. As a showcase application, we demonstrate the separation of superimposed beams of different diffraction orders directly behind acousto-optic modulators for an operating wavelength of 800nm. The wavelength as well as the component size can easily be adapted to meet the requirements of a wide variety of applications. The presented optical element allows to reduce the lengths of beam paths and thus to decrease laser system size and complexity.