Liquid crystal Fresnel zone lens based on single-side-patterned photoalignment layer

Wang, X. Q.; Fan, Fei; Du, Tao; Tam, Alwin Ming Wai; Ma, Ying; Srivastava, Abhishek Kumar; Chigrinov, Vladimir G.; Kwok, Hoi‐Sing

doi:10.1364/ao.53.002026

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Since for both the two polarizations, the phase difference all follows the well-designed domain structure, the diffractive performance of the DG can be considered as polarization-independent for both states. The LC device structure with orthogonal oriented LC molecule and π phase difference between neighbored domains is commonly used for realizing lots of other optical elements such as Fresnel plate [34] and grating [35]. In our design, the switchability of the device is critical important.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Dammann Grating by Patterned Photoalignment

et al. 2017

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Abstract:In this article, a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) dammann grating (DG) is demonstrated based on the patterned photoalignment technology. By applying low electric field (10 V) on the FLC DG, the grating can switch between a diffractive state with 7 × 7 optical spots array and a non-diffractive state, depending on the polarity of electric field. The FLC DG shows very fast switching speed with switching on time and off time to be only 81 µs and 59 µs respectively. Comparing with other fast LC DGs such as the ones based on blue phase LC or dual-frequency LC, the switching speed of the proposed FLC DG is about one order faster, which provides great potential and perspective for the FLC DG to be applied in a broad range of optical applications such as optical communication and beam shaping.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Dammann Grating by Patterned Photoalignment

et al. 2017

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“…Due to the outstanding electro-optical properties of dual frequency liquid crystal, the proposed Fresnel lens exhibited fast switching time under alternate high frequency and low frequency electric fields. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal Fresnel lens based on single alignment layer with patterned planar-aligned regions was disclosed by Wang et al [34] The binary-phase liquid crystal Fresnel lens manifested a diffraction efficiency of 39% at the focal point. Due to the mutually orthogonal alignment in neighboring domains (see Figure 12), the fabricated Fresnel lens possessed a polarization-independent property, which was indeed a merit in the viewpoint of efficient use of energy.…”

Section: Electrically Switchable Liquid Crystal Fresnel Lensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(c) Photo-patterning process with an amplitude photomask. The magnified area in the red dashed circle represents the easy axis distribution in two different alignment domains[34].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Photoaligning and Photopatterning: New LC Technology

2020

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We demonstrate a physical model of photoalignment and photopatterning based on rotational diffusion in solid azo-dye nanolayers. We also highlight the new applications of photoalignment and photopatterning in display and photonics such as: (i) liquid crystal (LC) E-paper devices, including optically rewritable LC E-paper on flexible substrates as 3D E-paper, as well as optically rewritable technology for photonics devices; (ii) photonics LC devices, such as LC Switches, polarization controllers and polarization rotators, variable optical attenuators, LC filled photonic crystal fiber, switchable diffraction grating; (iii) patterned micro-polarizer array using photo-alignment technology for image sensor; (iv) electrically tunable liquid crystal q-plates; (v) electrically switchable liquid crystal Fresnel lens; (vi) liquid crystal optical elements with integrated Pancharatnam-Berry phases. We are sure, that in the field of (LC), the main point is no longer display research, but new photonic applications of LC are emerging in telecommunication, fiber optical communication systems, sensors, switchable lenses, LC light converters and other LC photonics devices.

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“…Moreover, the complex fabrication makes these strategies costly and inefficient. By introducing orthogonal azimuthal angle control of LCs, realized by a photoalignment technique, Fresnel lenses, with their diffraction efficiencies improved to 40.5%, are presented [14]. More recently, the Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase has been integrated to realize a continuous lens phase profile, thus pushing the theoretical limit to 100% [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Fast-Response and Helicity-Dependent Lens Enabled by Micro-Patterned Dual-Frequency Liquid Crystals

Duan

Chen

et al. 2019

Crystals

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Liquid crystals are excellent candidates for tunable optical elements due to their large birefringence and continuous tunability by external fields. A dual-frequency liquid crystal lens integrated with Pancharatnam–Berry phase was fabricated via a dynamic photo-patterning technique. The proposed lens exhibited distinctive polarization-dependent characteristics and ultra-high efficiency rates of up to 95%. Via merely alternating the frequency of the applied electric field, the switching time between unfocused and focused states was measured in submilliseconds. This work supplies a new strategy for fast-response, high-efficiency and helicity-dependent lens with merits of easy fabrication and low power consumption.

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Liquid crystal Fresnel zone lens based on single-side-patterned photoalignment layer

Cited by 34 publications

References 24 publications

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Dammann Grating by Patterned Photoalignment

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Dammann Grating by Patterned Photoalignment

Photoaligning and Photopatterning: New LC Technology

A Fast-Response and Helicity-Dependent Lens Enabled by Micro-Patterned Dual-Frequency Liquid Crystals

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