Polarization smoothing is an important method used to improve beam uniformity and on-target energy coupling during inertial confinement fusion experiments. First-generation polarization smoothing optics deployed in the ultraviolet section of the 60-beam OMEGA Laser System are based on potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) wedges, which produce two diverging, orthogonally polarized beams. An upgrade to a random continuous polarizer (RCP) wave plate is desired that calls for an arbitrary distribution of polarization states. Imprinting a freeform depth profile into a birefringent crystal such as KDP is a promising approach for fabrication of a large-aperture RCP. Modern optical fabrication technologies are capable of imprinting these designs; however, the challenging material properties of KDP require new innovations in process and slurry chemistry. This presentation will discuss recent advances in our efforts to fabricate a KDP-RCP.
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