Application of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell as a self-aligning phase modulator

Hirofumi Kadono; Satoru Toyooka

doi:10.1117/12.347822

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7 May 1999 Application of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell as a self-aligning phase modulator

Hirofumi Kadono, Satoru Toyooka

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Proceedings Volume 3740, Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology (ICOSN '99); (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.347822
Event: Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology (ICOSN '99), 1999, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

In this study, we have examined the possibility of using an anti-ferroelectric liquid-crystal (AFLC) as a high speed phase modulator. The AFLC has the major advantage that it has three stable states in contrast to the ferroelectric liquid-crystal which has only two states. This feature permits the application of AFLC as a fast phase modulator in the phase shifting interferometer. However, AFLC also modulates the intensity of transmitted light as well as its phase. Based on theoretical analysis, it was found that doping a dichroic dye to AFLC cell can suppress the intensity modulation. Moreover, such a dye-doped AFLC phase modulator can perform as a self- align phase modulator. Such a self-align phase modulator permits a practically advantageous alignment-free optical system, for instance, in phase contrast microscope, point diffraction interferometer etc. Preliminary experiments were performed to demonstrate the validity of the dye-doped AFLC cell. Finally, we also examine the application of the dye- doped AFLC phase modulator to phase shifting interferometer.

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Hirofumi Kadono and Satoru Toyooka "Application of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell as a self-aligning phase modulator", Proc. SPIE 3740, Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology (ICOSN '99), (7 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.347822

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