Liquid crystal gratings for advanced control of polarized light propagation fabricated by one-step multiple beam holographic photoalignment

K. Kawai; M. Sakamoto; K. Noda; T. Sasaki; N. Kawatsuki; H. Ono

doi:10.1117/12.2250462

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15 February 2017 Liquid crystal gratings for advanced control of polarized light propagation fabricated by one-step multiple beam holographic photoalignment

K. Kawai, M. Sakamoto, K. Noda, T. Sasaki, N. Kawatsuki, H. Ono

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Proceedings Volume 10125, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies XII; 101251I (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2250462
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Liquid crystal grating with three-dimensionally modulated anisotropic structure is fabricated by one-step exposure of an empty glass cell whose inner walls are coated with photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystals to four-beam polarization interference UV beams. The diffraction properties were probed with a 633 nm wavelength laser and a 532 nm wavelength laser which were the coaxial incident. The novel properties, which diffraction directions are threedimensionally different depending on the wavelengths, are realized by the resultant liquid crystal grating. Furthermore, the resultant liquid crystal grating can be also applied to an advanced polarizing beam splitter which opposite circular polarization and linear polarizations are diffracted simultaneously. These diffraction properties were well-explained by Jones calculus. The resultant liquid crystal grating has the plural of the functions of optical elements such as wave plates, polarization beam splitter, dichroic beam splitter, Wollaston/Rochon prism, and tunable wavelength filter. Therefore, the resultant liquid crystal grating can contribute to miniaturization, sophistication, and cost reduction of optical systems using for, such as optical measurement, communication, and information processing.

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K. Kawai, M. Sakamoto, K. Noda, T. Sasaki, N. Kawatsuki, and H. Ono "Liquid crystal gratings for advanced control of polarized light propagation fabricated by one-step multiple beam holographic photoalignment", Proc. SPIE 10125, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies XII, 101251I (15 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2250462

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