Terahertz (THz) waves have attracted significant attention for many years mainly because of their practical applications in imaging. Liquid crystals (LCs) are remarkable materials for THz wave polarization modulation, as external fields with low power consumption can control their birefringence. Previously, we demonstrated a continuous wave THz common path phase shifting interference (PSI) method using the hydrogen-bonded LC phase shifter. In this study, we introduce the magnetic field to enhance the operation speed of the hydrogen-bonded LC phase shifter. We discuss the magnetic field application methods and the operation speed of continuous wave THz common path PSI.
General liquid crystal (LC) materials have considerably large birefringence in wide frequency regions in the electromagnetic wave spectra, extending to the THz, millimeter wave (MMW), and microwave. LC materials can potentially be applied to some excellent control devices in novel frequency regions as display devices in optics regions. However, the birefringence of LC materials synthesized for display applications generally decreases by approximately half in the MMW region. Furthermore, the small remaining absorption loss in the MMW region must lead to a fatal device loss, as the LC layer becomes extremely large in the application field. New LC materials beyond the display application have been desired in novel LC application fields. In this work, a new class of LC materials consisting of hydrogen bonding is evaluated in the MMW region for the first time. Some optical properties different from those of conventional LC materials are discovered. The most distinct property is that the birefringence of the hydrogen-bonded LC materials in the MMW region becomes considerably larger than that in visible rays, which is totally inversion in relation with conventional LC materials. The absorption coefficients are as small as those of the best LC materials developed for microwave applications. Although some disadvantages are associated with the application of actual devices in this stage, the distinct dispersion properties make a breakthrough imminent in this application fields.
The use of terahertz waves for imaging has been studied intensively from the scientific, medical, and industrial viewpoints. Phase information is important for terahertz imaging and thus several kinds of phase detection methods for terahertz waves have been reported. Phase imaging using continuous wave terahertz interferometry has the advantage of having a high signal-to-noise ratio. Phase-shifting interferometry by using a liquid crystal (LC) phase shifter is a possible candidate for terahertz phase imaging. Accordingly, it has several advantages, such as a simple experimental setup and a low drive voltage. In our previous research, we confirmed that hydrogen-bonded LCs do not exhibit dichroism at 2.5 THz. Furthermore, hydrogen-bonded LCs exhibit higher birefringence in the terahertz range than in the visible range. Recently, we studied phase-shifting interferometry by using a hydrogen-bonded LC device. Since the hydrogen-bonded LC do not exhibit dichroism at 2.5 THz, the birefringence of the sample could be successfully obtained. To improve repeatability of this measurement, it is important to monitor the operational state of the LC phase shifter while making phase measurements. To simultaneously measure the phase of the sample and the degree of the phase shift of an LC device, we introduced a beam splitter and an additional detector into the phase-shifting interferometry technique. We report an improved measurement method for phase-shifting interferometry by using the LC phase shifter.
A two-dimensional (2D) liquid-crystal (LC) grating consisting of three LC molecular orientation domains is fabricated by a microrubbing process, with the aim of application to the Stokes polarimetry. It was found that the in-plane orientation direction, retardation, and twist angle in the obtained LC molecular orientation state varied in space. The fabricated LC grating was applied to the Stokes polarimetry to ensure the viability of the proposed measurement scheme. As a result, the measured Stokes parameter of the incident light agreed with that of the incident light. Furthermore, we point out the possibility of performance adjustability by an applied voltage, which can be a great advantage of the LCgrating Stokes polarimetry.
Recently, millimeter-waves (MMWs) have become indispensable for application in next-generation high-speed wireless communication i.e., 5G, in addition to conventional applications such as in automobile collision avoidance radars and airport security inspection systems. Some manageable devices to control MMW propagation will be necessary with the development of this new technology field. We believe that liquid crystal (LC) devices are one of the major candidates for such applications because it is known that LC materials are excellent electro-optic materials. However, as the wavelength of MMWs is extremely longer than the optics region, extremely thick LC layers are necessary if we choose the quasioptic approach to attain LC MMW control devices. Therefore, we adopt a PDLC structure to attain the extremely thick LC layers by using porous (polymethyl methacrylate) PMMA materials, which can be easily obtained using a solvent consisting of a mixture of ethanol/water and a little heating. In this work, we focus on Fresnel lens, which is an important quasi-optic device for MMW application, to introduce a tunable property by using LC materials. Here, we adopt the thin film deposition method to obtain a porous PMMA matrix with the aim of obtaining final composite structure based on the Fresnel substrate. First, the fundamental material properties of porous PMMA are investigated to control the microscopic porous structure. Then, the LC-MMW Fresnel lens substrate is prepared using a 3D printer, and the fundamental MMW focusing properties of the prototype composite Fresnel structure are investigated.
A liquid crystal (LC) cell behaves as an optically uniaxial crystal and lateral shear properties can be obtained under considerably low voltage, because an oblique optical axis distribution state appears in the middle voltage level between ON and OFF. In this work, a pair of twisted nematic (TN) LC cells is introduced to the normal polarization microscope system to implement differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging, which is a powerful observation tool for weak phase samples such as a bio cell. DIC imaging is usually obtained using a pair of Nomarski prisms, which are inserted at the back focal plane of the objective and condenser lenses to separate and combine the input image laterally. However, if we use LC cells, DIC images can be easily obtained by just sandwiching the test sample between a pair of LC cells. The lateral shear distance, which influences DIC sensitivity, becomes tunable with fast response speed by using LC cells, although the shear distance is fixed in the normal DIC system. Furthermore, unique lateral shearing properties of the TN cell help in achieving self-compensation of optical retardation, and we can then use the incoherent illumination of a normal microscope system for DIC observation as usual. Here, fundamental lateral shearing properties and the operational mode for DIC imaging are investigated using a pair of TN cells.
We investigate the terahertz (THz) phase imaging using liquid crystal (LC) device. Recently, there have been extensive efforts to measure the refractive indices and transmission losses of some LC materials in THz region. From these results, LC materials show relatively large refractive index anisotropy and they can have a potential application to some control devices similar to the display application. Furthermore, tunable LC THz phase shifter has been reported. In this study, an attempt was made to introduce the LC device into the THz phase imaging which was based on four-step phase-shifting algorithm. Four-step phase-shifting algorithm is one of the most effective methods of phase imaging and moving mirror is needed to introduce phase shift in standard measurements. In addition, we should prepare the two rays with common source, therefor experimental setup becomes complicated. While on the other hand, it is just needed to insert a LC phase shifter into the light path when we adopt LC device. Furthermore, low-voltage application is enough to introduce the phase-shifting, hence it is not necessary to prepare the moving mirror. In this work, we fabricate the electrically tunable LC phase shifter which has sandwich cell structure. The fundamental phase-shifting properties were measured by using an optically pumped gas laser system which can generate continuous wave (CW) THz waves. In addition, we investigated the phase shifting interferometry which was based on four-step phase-shifting algorithm by using LC phase shifter. We also estimate the birefringence of X-cut crystalline quartz at 2.5 THz.
Various liquid crystal (LC) phase shifters that operate in the super-high-frequency electromagnetic-wave regions have
been investigated using planar-type excellent waveguides such as the microstrip line (MSL) and coplanar waveguide
(CPW). First planar-type LC phase shifters were constructed using MSL, which was developed as an excellent planar
waveguide for super-high-frequency electromagnetic waves. CPW-type LC phase shifters have attracted continued
attention, because when they are used, all the signal and ground electrodes are at the same surface, which leads to ease in
integration for constructing various functional devices. However, they suffer from an essential drawback of degradation
in the phase shift magnitude, which is because the propagating electromagnetic waves encounter the permittivity of both
the substrate and the LC materials, which reduces the modulation effect of the LC materials to less than half. In this
work, a novel MSL-type LC phase shifter is investigated to achieve excellent phase shifting performance while
maintaining ease in integration, as offered by the CPW-type phase shifter. Several device structural parameters are
investigated to improve the transmission and phase shifting properties. Some LC materials are also tested for further
improvement in the high-frequency operation extended to the millimeter-wave region.
Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) type of liquid crystal (LC) cell structure is investigated to attain extremely large
size LC layer for the millimeter waves (MMW) and/or terahertz (THz) LC device applications. It is known that the
porous PMMA material (PMMA monolith) is easy to fabricate from the PMMA ethanol/water solution, and we try to use
the monolith as a polymer matrix of the PDLC type LC devices. It may be possible to make arbitrary bulky structure by
using suitable container for the initial solution such as Fresnel zone shape, grating shape and so on, where the thickness
of the LC layer can be several millimeters.
Liquid crystal (LC) gratings consisting of twisted nematic orientation domains have been demonstrated. The LC cells
exhibited bistability in its LC molecular orientation behavior, which can be divided into two types of twist orientations;
that is, ±90° or ±180° twist orientation states. The former can be produced by the nematic-isotropic phase transition
(heating and cooling the LC cell). The latter is constantly obtained by a suitable voltage application. Based on this
experimental result, switching scheme between these two orientation states were proposed. Furthermore, diffraction
properties of the LC cell as a grating and the possibility as LC bistable grating were discussed.
Light-emitting properties in liquid-crystal (LC) electrochemiluminescent (ECL) cells doped with an organic
fluorescent dye (rubrene) were investigated. LC-ECL cells function based on the collision (recombination) of
oppositely charged radical ions (anions and cations), which move by an external electric field applied across
the cell. In this work, to obtain large values of luminance and current, a heating stir process was introduced in
a preparation procedure of rubrene-doped LC. It was found that the heating stir process dramatically
improves both of the luminance and current. It is considered that the drastic increase of the luminance and
current density is caused by the increase of the actual dye concentration. Next, to obtain polarized emission
based on the orientational nature of the nematic LC, emission properties of an LC-ECL cell with an
interdigitated electrode were investigated. As a result, the polarized emission from orientating dyes was
confirmed although its polarization ratio was not so high.
It is known that the phase-shift intererometry is promising measurement method for the precise optical test. Liquid
crystal (LC) phase shifter is very attractive as an electrically tunable phase sifter for the key component of the test
system. We adopt here a bend aligned liquid crystal cell for the fast phase shifting, and mount it on the optical system of
polarization microscope. A potential application for precise 2D birefringence measurement system is investigated and as
high as a few tenths of a wavelength resolution can be obtained by the simple 4-step phase shifting technique. Obtained
image data show the phase profile which corresponds to retardation distribution of the prepared sample, and then it
becomes possible to perform quantitative analysis of 2D birefringence distribution in planar sample. Since there is
basically a setting angle dependency of the test sample, measurement phase data have information of birefringence sign
(positive or negative) and we can distinguish between the direction parallel and perpendicular to the anisotropic axis. We
observe tiny marine zooplankton as a weakly anisotropic actual sample, and the birefringence of the muscle can be
clearly detected. It is also successfully pick up that the elongated direction of muscles show higher index value.
Large tunable properties induced by the change of LC molecular orientation states can be expected for wider frequency region except for visible rays. Focusing on the millimeter wave (MMW) region, a novel measurement method for LC materials is investigated using the rectangular waveguide test cell and several commercially available nematic LC materials have been actually evaluated for V-band (50GHz-75GHz) and W-band (65GHz-110GHz) regions. Refractive indices for the direction parallel to the LC molecular orientation in the MMW region are almost the same with those in the visible rays, on the other hand the indices for the direction perpendicular to the LC orientation show a little larger values. Consequently, refractive index anisotropy which is the most important for the tunable LC devices reduces to be 1/2 through 1/3 of that in the visible rays. Although the larger refractive index anisotropy is desired for the better performance, the anisotropy of the usual LC materials is still large and the loss properties are fairly good. Based on the materials data, we have demonstrated the CPW type LC devices combining with an ITO glass substrate on it. Phase and amplitude changes of the transmitted MMW by the LC driving are investigated considering the influences of some device parameters.
Molecular orientation states in the liquid crystal (LC) cell can easily be deformed and change their properties by applying low driving voltage with low power consumption. Those features are also attractive for the various functional devices in the wider frequency regions such as a millimeter wave (MMW), although only the optics applications are well investigated as the display application is put the head of them. Waveguide systems are well known as an excellent way to make a low loss transmission circuit in the ultrahigh frequency region such as microwaves and MMWs, and then the LC devices utilizing the waveguide have been proposed so far. However, the planar waveguide has gathered many attractions for the wider functionality by integration. We adopt here a coplanar waveguide (CPW) substrate to prepare the planar type of LC MMW devices combined with an ITO glass substrate. Since the ITO film acts as a floating electrode to simplify the electrode structure, LC molecules can be driven by applying the voltage only to the CPW substrate. Unfortunately, since the ITO electrode close to the CPW decreases the transmission of the MMW, the molecular orientation effects related with the electrode structure are very important to minimize the electrode area. We prepare the transparent LC cell which has exactly the same electrode structure with the CPW LC cell, and observe the molecular orientation states in detail by using a polarization microscope. It becomes clear that only the narrow area above the signal electrode of the CPW affects strongly to the phase change of the MMW propagation in the CPW type LC cell.
Liquid crystal (LC) molecular orientations and optical properties of LC polarization-converting devices are discussed. It is found that two stable LC molecular orientation states appear (we define them at the +/- 90 degree(s) and +/- 180 degree(s) twist modes), and the switching method between the two modes are discussed. Fourier transforms (FT) of the transmitted light of the LC polarization- converting device are performed by computer simulations. It is confirmed from the simulated FT results that both distribution profiles of the transmitted light beams in the +/- 90 degree(s) and +/- 280 degree(s) twist modes can be regarded as wavelets. Wavelet transforms using the LC polarization- converting device are simulated and feature extraction properties are discussed. It is found that the +/- 90 degree(s) and +/- 180 degree(s) twist modes can perform corner and edge extractions, respectively.
Geometric type of liquid crystal (LC) lens can be obtained by using the spherical substrate in a liquid crystal cell. The LC lens can have a potential application to a kind of light wave controlling device by utilizing the electronic variable focusing properties. However, it shows a particular aberration properties induced by the molecular orientation related with a curved substrate structure. In this study, LC molecular orientation states in the LC lens and the optical properties are investigated by the experimental and the theoretical approaches. Interference fringe patterns induced by the LC layer are observed and optical path distribution properties are compared between the rubbing direction and the direction perpendicular to the rubbing. One dimensional model is applied to the molecular orientation calculation, and the optical path difference in the 2D area and the wave aberrations are calculated for normal incidence. It is confirmed that a particular wave aberration dependent upon the rubbing direction appears, and the influence of the curved substrate strongly depend upon the thickness of the LC layer. Therefore, the aberration phenomena of the convex and concave lens are quite different even though they have the spherical substrate with the same magnitude of curvature. When a voltage is applied to the LC lens, reverse tilted disclination lines tend to appear and they usually cause a fatal degradation of lens properties. The disclination lines can be eliminated by introducing a small pretilt angle to the alignment layer within a smaller inclination of substrate. However, even in the disclination free state, there is some influence on the wavefront through the LC lens; that is, large inclination of the wave front causes in the lower applied voltage.
A graded index type lens can be attained by utilizing the liquid crystal molecular orientation effects in an axially symmetrical electric field which is produced by the circular hole-patterned electrode. The liquid crystal (LC) microlens has a variable focusing property and is easy to make large scale of lens array because of its simple structure. Excellent lens properties can be obtained by optimizing the electrode structure, driving voltage and etc., and the focusing spot size is as small as the diffraction limit. We can expect a new type of lens as an active device for light control by the LC microlens. However, time response of the LC microlens is usually very slow and it has a large aberration caused by the liquid crystal molecular orientation. In this paper, fabrication and fundamental properties of the LC microlens are briefly reviewed, and then the improvement of response and optical properties are discussed. The response and recovery time can be extremely reduced by introducing the polymer stabilization technique using UV curable LC materials. In addition, the aberration can be eliminated by introducing divided electrode structure. The new electrode structure can also provide free space focusing and deflection properties to the LC microlens.
The optical properties of the liquid crystal (LC) polarization-converting device, which can convert a uniformly-distributed polarization state to a radially- distributed one (a radially polarized light), are measured. The availability of such the unique device for optical wavelet transforms is discussed experimentally and theoretically. It is found from the observation of Fourier images that the radially polarized light can be regarded as a 1D Haar wavelet and a circular Haar wavelet in the case with and without an analyzer, respectively. Therefore, we can select two types of Haar wavelets by attaching or removing the analyzer. To discuss the edge extraction properties, the wavelet transforms are implemented by using computer simulations. It is confirmed that the radially polarized light produced by the LC polarization-converting device is useful for extracting edge features of 1D and 2D images in the case with and without the analyzer, respectively.
A fabrication method and optical properties of a double- layer polymer/liquid-crystal (LC) grating are reported. The double-layer polymer/LC grating is fabricated by a simple single-step process with UV irradiation through a grating photomask, using a mixture of liquid crystal and prepolymer materials. This liquid crystal grating consists of two polymer/LC layers with a periodic relief structure. The alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules for the two layers are orthogonal to each other. The diffraction properties of the double-layer polymer/LC grating have been measured and compared with that of a single-layer one. Behaviors of the disclination lines have been also investigated under a voltage application. The results indicate that the double-layer polymer/LC grating has voltage-controllable polarization direction-independent diffraction properties.
The anamorphic liquid crystal (LC) microlens are prepared using elliptically-patterned electrode structures and nematic LC materials, and their optical properties are demonstrated. The interference fringe patterns of the LC microlens can be varied by applying voltages. Focal length and astigmatic focal distance properties are estimated as a function of applied voltage and it is confirmed that an astigmatism of the anamorphic LC microlens can easily be controlled by an ellipticity of a patterned electrode and an applying voltage. Coupling of a laser diode beam to a multimode optical fiber is also demonstrated using the anamorphic LC microlens.
Uniaxial crystal properties can easily be obtained by using a nematic liquid crystal (LC) with suitable substrate treatment.A liquid crystal lens, which has bifocal properties, is fabricated wit a concave lens and a pane substrate to attain a convex lens shape LC layer, and is used as the key component of the double focusing interferometer. Liquid crystal materials are selected for the refractive index matching between the plano-concave lens and no value of the LC material. In this case, an incident ordinary ray as a test beam passes just through the lens without focusing. On the other hand, an extraordinary ray as a reference beam is focusing on the test piece with the same general path, and the common path configuration can easily be achieved. Basic properties as a novel optical test system using the LC lens are demonstrated, and it is confirmed that a thickness of an Al evaporated film can successfully be measured by introducing phase shifting technique.
We have investigated the electrooptical characteristics and viewing-angle properties of liquid crystal (LC) display devices referred as the electrically induced hybrid twisted nematic (EHTN) LC display devices, in which LC molecular orientation effects in inhomogeneous electric fields induced by grating electrode structures are utilized. The properties of EHTN display devices are studied in a measurement setup with an actual backlight unit as a light source. We have demonstrated that these devices have high contrast ratios, wide and symmetrical viewing-angle properties, specially in the direction perpendicular to the grating direction. Since there are diffraction effects from the gratings of periodic LC molecular orientations, we discuss the influence of the diffraction effects on viewing-angle properties by evaluating two kinds of EHTN LC cells fabricated by Al metal thin film (obscure) and ITO (transparent) grating electrode structures, show the possibility of realizing good viewing- angle properties by appropriate grating structures.
By determining Stokes' parameters of light diffracted from a nematic liquid crystal grating fabricated with a grating electrode structure, polarization modulation properties of this LC grating are characterized. The electrically controllable polarization modulations of its diffracted light are demonstrated as well as its diffraction light intensity modulations. A unique property of symmetrical diffraction light intensities but antisymmetrical polarization states in corresponding negative and positive diffraction orders is shown.
Liquid crystal cells with a radial molecular orientation is proposed using a UV curable liquid crystal material. A radially and homogeneously aligned LC cell (RH-LC cell) and an LC cell with a radial molecular orientation on both substrates (RR-LC cell) are fabricated and their optical properties are investigated. A polarization converting function of the RH-LC cell and detecting function of the polarization direction in the dye doped RR-LC cell are confirmed. Furthermore, an optical alignment of liquid crystal on the PVC surface is demonstrated using RH-LC cell.
The liquid crystal microlens can be obtained by molecular orientation effects in a non-uniform electric field which is produced by the asymmetric electrode structure with a hole-patterned electrode and an ITO coated counter electrode. In this cell, an axially symmetric distribution of the liquid crystal molecules; that is, a radial distribution of refractive indices is achieved. Relations between the optical properties and the geometric factors, such as the diameter of the hole-pattern and the thickness of the cell are investigated. An optical fiber coupler with a variable coupling efficiency is prepared and its switching properties are discussed.
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