Optically controlled bistable waveplates
Optically controlled bistable waveplates
We develop an optically controlled, rewritable half-wave plate based on a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and present the relevant theory. The cell is bistable, with switching between states controlled by one-step illumination of a single PAAD azobenzene alignment layer with visible light. The photo-alignment properties of the layer enable reversible switching between two perpendicular alignment states at the cell surface, resulting in controllable polarization manipulation. The resulting changes in transmission are observed for four different probe beam wavelengths in the visible and near infrared (NIR) spectral regime. We demonstrate a reproducible modulation of the transmitted polarization with an optical contrast of up to 90–100%. This work represents a first step towards creating LC modulators and phase shifters which can be controlled remotely using only external light sources.
Perivolari, Eleni
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Gill, Jordan, Ronald Ewan
308dc268-ffc7-411b-80ec-761e3c0e55bc
Apostolopoulos, Vasileios
8a898740-4c71-4040-a577-9b9d70530b4d
Sluckin, T.J.
8dbb6b08-7034-4ae2-aa65-6b80072202f6
D'alessandro, Giampaolo
bad097e1-9506-4b6e-aa56-3e67a526e83b
Kaczmarek, Malgosia
408ec59b-8dba-41c1-89d0-af846d1bf327
Perivolari, Eleni
a65ec857-cf22-497d-bdb4-66fb449751d3
Gill, Jordan, Ronald Ewan
308dc268-ffc7-411b-80ec-761e3c0e55bc
Apostolopoulos, Vasileios
8a898740-4c71-4040-a577-9b9d70530b4d
Sluckin, T.J.
8dbb6b08-7034-4ae2-aa65-6b80072202f6
D'alessandro, Giampaolo
bad097e1-9506-4b6e-aa56-3e67a526e83b
Kaczmarek, Malgosia
408ec59b-8dba-41c1-89d0-af846d1bf327
Perivolari, Eleni, Gill, Jordan, Ronald Ewan, Apostolopoulos, Vasileios, Sluckin, T.J., D'alessandro, Giampaolo and Kaczmarek, Malgosia
(2017)
Optically controlled bistable waveplates.
Journal of Molecular Liquids.
(doi:10.1016/j.molliq.2017.12.119).
Abstract
We develop an optically controlled, rewritable half-wave plate based on a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and present the relevant theory. The cell is bistable, with switching between states controlled by one-step illumination of a single PAAD azobenzene alignment layer with visible light. The photo-alignment properties of the layer enable reversible switching between two perpendicular alignment states at the cell surface, resulting in controllable polarization manipulation. The resulting changes in transmission are observed for four different probe beam wavelengths in the visible and near infrared (NIR) spectral regime. We demonstrate a reproducible modulation of the transmitted polarization with an optical contrast of up to 90–100%. This work represents a first step towards creating LC modulators and phase shifters which can be controlled remotely using only external light sources.
Text
Optically controlled bistable waveplates
- Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 21 December 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 26 December 2017
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Local EPrints ID: 417064
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/417064
PURE UUID: 9808a2c1-f94d-4712-b280-b3a87cbe1fdf
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Date deposited: 18 Jan 2018 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:07
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Author:
Eleni Perivolari
Author:
Jordan, Ronald Ewan Gill
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