Electrically controlled cholesteric gratings

Oleg D. Lavrentovich; Darius Subacius; Sergey V. Shiyanovskii; Philip J. Bos

doi:10.1117/12.305505

20 April 1998 Electrically controlled cholesteric gratings

Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Darius Subacius, Sergey V. Shiyanovskii, Philip J. Bos

Proceedings Volume 3292, Spatial Light Modulators; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.305505
Event: Optoelectronics and High-Power Lasers and Applications, 1998, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Electrically controlled diffractive gratings are developed on the basis of cholesteric liquid crystal confined between two transparent electrodes. The electrodes are coated with unidirectionally treated alignment layers. The initial state is planar, with helix axis oriented normally to the electrodes. The applied field causes reorientation of molecules and creates structures modulated in the plane of the cell. Surface alignment provides unidirectional uniformity of the modulation. The parameters of the modulated structures and light diffraction are controlled by the cholesteric pitch, cell thickness and applied voltages. In the device of the first type, the modulated state produces Raman-Nath (RN) diffraction and allows a the modulated structure depends on the applied field. Diffraction regimes of both RN and Bragg types are demonstrated for this geometry. In the RN regime, the electric field allows one to control continuously the deflection angle. This effect can be used in various beam steering devices. The variation in the diffracted beam direction is more than 15 degrees. Typical working voltages are less than 10V. We present both the experimental results and 3D computer simulations of modulated structures caused by the field.

Citation Download Citation

Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Darius Subacius, Sergey V. Shiyanovskii, and Philip J. Bos "Electrically controlled cholesteric gratings", Proc. SPIE 3292, Spatial Light Modulators, (20 April 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.305505

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Diffraction

Modulation

Diffraction gratings

Beam steering

Electrodes

Liquid crystals

Dielectrics

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years