We present new lenses – waveplate lenses created in liquid crystal materials. Waveplate lenses allowed focusing and defocusing laser beam depending on the sign of the circularity of laser beam polarization. Using an electrically-switchable liquid-crystal half-wave retarder we realized switching between focused and defocused beams by the waveplate lens. A combination of two such lenses allowed the collimation of a laser beam as well as the change of focal length of optical system. Lenses of varied size and focal length are presented.

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Nelson V. Tabiryan, Svetlana V. Serak, David E. Roberts, Diane M. Steeves, and Brian R. Kimball, "Thin waveplate lenses: new generation in optics," Proc. SPIE 9565, Liquid Crystals XIX, 956512 (Presented at SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics: August 10, 2015; Published: 8 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2190295.