Spiking voltages for faster switching of nematic liquid-crystal light modulators.

Submillisecond-response polymer network liquid crystal phase modulators at 1.06-lm wavelength

A fast-response and scattering-free polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) light modulator is demonstrated at k1⁄4 1.06 lm wavelength. A decay time of 117 ls for 2p phase modulation is obtained at 70 C, which is 650 faster than that of the host nematic LCs. The major tradeoff is the increased operating voltage. Potential applications include spatial light modulators and adaptive optics. VC 2011 ...

A Polarization-Independent Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We report our recent experimental results on a new polarization-independent, liquid crystal (LC) spatial light modulator (SLM). Based on a periodic nematic director profile, the modulator acts as a switchable diffraction grating with only 0and ±1st-orders at efficiencies of ≥ 99%, manifests contrast ratios ∼600:1 (for laser light), switching times of ∼ 2ms, and threshold voltages of < 1V/μm. Re...

Nematic Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators for Laser Beam Steering

Fast Switching Dual-Frequency Liquid Crystal Optical Retarder, Driven by an Amplitude and Frequency Modulated Voltage

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally a fast-switching nematic optical retarder capable to switch a few microns of optical retardation in less than 1 ms. For example, a nematic cell of thickness 14.5 mm switches 0.3 mm of retardation within 0.15 ms and 2.5 mm within 0.5 ms for single passage of beam. The corresponding figure of merit is two orders of magnitude higher than the one know...

Phase switching of ordered arrays of liquid crystal emulsions

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) are a well established technology for electrooptic devices used in displays and light switches. They rely on dispersions of nematic liquid crystal material in a polymer matrix. In the absence of an electric field, the director field n(r), which characterizes the local average orientation of the rodlike nematic mesogens, is randomly oriented, leading to a...