Independent Manipulation of Topological Charges and Polarization Patterns of Optical Vortices.

We present a simple and flexible method to generate various vectorial vortex beams (VVBs) with a Pancharatnam phase based on the scheme of double reflections from a single liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM). In this configuration, VVBs are constructed by the superposition of two orthogonally polarized orbital angular momentum (OAM) eigenstates. To verify the optical properties of the generated beams, Stokes polarimetry is developed to measure the states of polarization (SOP) over the transverse plane, while a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is used to measure the OAM charge of beams. It is shown that both the simulated and the experimental results are in good qualitative agreement. In addition, polarization patterns and OAM charges of generated beams can be controlled independently using the proposed method.

Direct optical switching of bistable cholesteric textures in chiral azobenzene-doped liquid crystals.

The direct optical switching of bistable cholesteric textures (i.e., planar and focal conic textures) in chiral azobenzene-doped liquid crystals (LCs) is demonstrated. Chiral azobenzene is a chiral dopant with optically tuned helical twisting power that results from the photo-isomerization between trans- and cis- isomers via exposure to UV or visible light. The pitch length of the material can be optically and repeatedly elongated and shortened. With regard to free energy, LCs tend to be stable at planar (focal conic) textures when pitch length is elongated (shortened) by exposure to UV (visible) light. Thus, direct optical switchable LC displays are investigated.

All-optically controllable and highly efficient scattering mode light modulator based on azobenzene liquid crystals and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) films.

The present study reports that isothermal phase transition induced by photoisomerization of azobenzene liquid crystals (azo-LCs) from trans- to cis-isomers results in the dissolution of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) into azo-LCs. Transparent (scattering) states can be demonstrated using uniform (rough) morphologies of PVK generated by slow (rapid) phase separation of PVK and azo-LCs from cis- to trans-isomers. The PVK films were examined in detail using scanning electron microscopy. Scattering performance resulting from the rough PVK surface induced micron-sized LC domains, and transparent performance resulting from the reformed uniform PVK surface can be optically and reversibly switched. Finally, all-optically controllable and highly efficient (contrast ratio of 370:1) scattering mode light modulators based on azo-LCs and PVK films were demonstrated.

Optically and thermally controllable light scattering based on dye-doped liquid crystals in poly(N-vinylcarbazole) films-coated liquid crystal cell.

This paper presents the optically controllable light scattering based on dye-doped liquid crystals (DDLCs) in a cell, whose substrates are coated with poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) films. The optical control mechanism is the light-induced dissolution of PVK in DDLCs, which reforms the disordered LC distribution into multiple and micron-sized LC domains. The induced thermal effect on the process is investigated in detail. Scanning electron microscopy images are obtained to show the surface structures of the produced PVK films. The generated scattering can be switched back to the original one by particular thermally induced phase separation. Results indicate that the light-induced thermal effect and photoisomerization lead to the dissolution of PVK in DDLCs. Finally, scattering mode light shutter with different transmission is successfully achieved by illuminating the cell under various light intensities.

Dual liquid crystal alignment configuration based on nanoparticle-doped polymer films.

This paper proposes an approach for producing dual liquid crystal (LC) alignment configuration based on nanoparticle-doped polymer films. Experimental results indicate that illuminating a nanoparticle-doped pre-polymer film, coated onto a substrate with a homogeneous alignment layer, with unpolarized UV light through a photomask causes the polymerization of pre-polymer, ultimately generating homogeneous and vertical alignment layers in unpolymerized and polymerized regions, respectively. The dual LC alignment configuration of the homogeneous (vertical) and hybrid alignments can be achieved by combining the treated substrate with another substrate that has a homogeneous (vertical) alignment layer. Additionally, the applications of the dual LC alignment layer in phase gratings and transflective LC displays are demonstrated.

Polarization rotators fabricated by thermally-switched liquid crystal alignments based on rubbed poly(N-vinyl carbazole) films.

This paper demonstrates the thermally-switched liquid crystal (LC) alignments based on a rubbed poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) film, and their application for polarization rotators. The mechanically rubbed PVK layer can induce a planar alignment of LCs with their director axis perpendicular to the direction of rubbing. This direction can be switched toward the rubbing direction by thermal treatment. Experimentally, the angle of re-orientation of the director axis increases with the temperature in a specific range of temperatures. In this study, the optical properties of linear and concentric polarization rotators, fabricated using a rubbed PVK film with thermal treatment, are examined.