ABSTRACT
This study demonstrates the optical manipulation of colloids dispersed in azo-dye-doped liquid crystals (DDLCs) where the accumulation occurs at the interfaces of the phase domains. We explain the mechanism related to the formation of the domains and the movement of the colloids in DDLCs with respect to the isomerization of azo-dye molecules via the illumination of laser beams. The colloids are dragged to the interfaces of the isotropic/nematic domain and the air bubble/isotropic domain by molecular interaction and Marangoni flows.
ABSTRACT
This Letter demonstrates optical vortex lattices based on holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) films. The fabrication method uses a phase-only reflective spatial light modulator with numerically calculated phase profiles loaded on it to simplify multi-helical-wave interference. The beam profiles of the diffraction beams are simulated using the Fourier transform and compared with experimental results. The topological charges of the 1st-order diffraction beams reconstructed from the HPDLC films are examined using a Michelson interferometer.
ABSTRACT
This study develops a light shutter whose transmittance can be tuned electro-optically. The liquid crystal (LC) film applies the photoconductive material of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) based on twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystals (LCs). The hole-transport layer of PVK could reduce the built-in electric field of the LC film under the exposure of UV light. The driving voltage is considerably decreased with the aid of UV light exposure. The repeating optical switching is performed under sunlight illumination with an external bias of electric field â¼5 V. Further, it could be operated under a parallel/cross-polarizer to change the light beam/ring as an iris and used to automatically block the UV light to protect an optical integrated system.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
This study demonstrates helical wave fronts via a spiral phase plate based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). Because the PDLC is electric tunable, the plate can be used in a wide visible band. In addition, if the probe beam deviates from the center of the sample, some of the light propagates out of the sectors. We propose some of the applications for the results.
ABSTRACT
An optical filter with tunable wavelength and bandwidth is demonstrated using two phototunable cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) configured in a reflection mode. In this mode, incident light is first reflected by one Azo-chiral-doped CLC and then by another one. The tuning mechanism, which is based on the pitch modulation of the CLCs that contain an Azo-chiral dopant, can be controlled by two pumping laser beams. The central wavelength can be tuned from 510 to 628 nm, and the bandwidth can be changed from 13 to 79 nm.
ABSTRACT
This study demonstrates all optical switches between the four diffractive light levels of a body-centered tetragonal photonic crystal. The sample is based on holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals that are fabricated using a two-beam interference with multiple exposures. The switching mechanism bases on the effective index modulation of the PC that contains a liquid crystal/azo-dye mixture could be controlled by two pumping laser beams. The switching time between the blue-laser-pumped and the blue-and-green-laser-pumped levels is fast. The study also discusses the switching time of the various levels.
Subject(s)
Holography/methods , Lasers , Optics and Photonics , Algorithms , Computer Simulation , Crystallization , Light , Liquid Crystals , Models, Statistical , Photons , Polymers/chemistry , Time FactorsABSTRACT
An eightfold photonic quasi-crystal (PQC) sample is fabricated holographically using two-beam interference with multi-exposure based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. The transmission spectra from the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation prove the photonic stop band of the rotational symmetry structure of the sample. The resonant mode of the circular microcavity formed in the PQC is calculated. Amplified spontaneous emission and multimode lasing action are demonstrated from the pumped laser-dye-doped PQC microcavity using a Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) pulse laser.
ABSTRACT
This study demonstrates an optical switch of the diffractive light from a body-centered tetragonal photonic crystal based on holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals that are fabricated using two-beam interference with multiple exposures. The liquid crystal-rich regions form the lattice points of the PC, which contains a liquid crystal/azo-dye mixture. The concentration of the cis isomer changes under laser light exposure; this change, in turn, modulates the effective index of the LCs, and then switches diffractive light.
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the transversely propagating waves in a body-centered tetragonal photonic crystal based on a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film. Rotating the film reveals three different transverse propagating waves. Degeneracy of optical Bloch waves from reciprocal lattice vectors explains their symmetrical distribution.
Subject(s)
Holography/methods , Liquid Crystals/chemistry , Membranes, Artificial , Models, Theoretical , Polymers/chemistry , Computer Simulation , Crystallization , Light , Scattering, RadiationABSTRACT
A continuous multiple exposure diffraction grating (CMEDG) is fabricated holographically on polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films using two-beam interference with multiple exposures. The grating is fabricated by exposing a PDLC film to 18 repeated exposure/non-exposure cycles with an angular step of ~10°/10° while it revolves a circle on a rotation stage. The structure of the sample thus formed is analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and shows arc-ripples around the center. From the diffraction patterns of the formed grating obtained using a normally incident laser beam, some or all of the 18 recorded arc beams can be reconstructed, as determined by the probing location. Thus, it can be applied for use as a beam-vibration sensor for a laser.
Subject(s)
Holography/instrumentation , Lasers , Liquid Crystals/chemistry , Membranes, Artificial , Photometry/instrumentation , Polymers/chemistry , Transducers , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , VibrationABSTRACT
We explore axial scattering from a two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal based on a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal at normal incidence. The scattering reveals symmetric cones over a range of frequencies. The observed cones disperse strongly outward, and their radii are determined by the wavelength of the probe beam. Such cones are generated by the coupling of forward-scattered beams of the refracted beams and the refracted beams themselves under momentum conservation.
