The formation of the centrosymmetric distributions of light intensity for exposure of photosensitive alignment layers of LC lenses

Authors

  • Veronika S. Bezruchenko Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus
  • Uladzimir V. Mahilny Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus
  • Alexander I. Stankevich Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasti Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus
  • Alexander A. Muravsky Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus
  • Anatoli A. Muravsky Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus

Keywords:

liquid crystal lens, gradient alignment layer, photocrosslinking benzaldehyde polymers

Abstract

Under UV irradiation of the gradient benzaldehyde polymer layers, a gradual transition from homeotropic to planar alignment of mesogenic molecules occurs on their surface. To use this effect to produce liquid crystal lenses, it is necessary to create an inhomogeneous local distribution of illumination on the surface of the orienting layer with a maximum intensity in the center of the illuminated circle and with its decrease to the boundaries. Similar distributions can be obtained by illuminating the photosensitive layer through a photomask with round holes. It is essential that the use of such a scheme also provides the possibility of creating in one process the substrates for arrays of repetitive lens structures which are of great value in engineering. In this paper, the light distributions from planar round Lambert sources for exposure of the photosensitive alignment layers of liquid crystal lenses are modeled by the numerical methods. An experimental analysis of the radiation intensity profile created by using the collimated light beam and photomask with round holes is performed. The conditions for the formation of a radiation intensity distribution profile close to the parabolic one are chosen. The alignment layers based on gradient polymers with benzaldehyde side groups and the liquid crystal cell with an array of switchable lenses are manufactured.

Author Biographies

  • Veronika S. Bezruchenko, Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus

    junior researcher at the laboratory of materials and technologies of LC devices

  • Uladzimir V. Mahilny, Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

    doctor of science (physics and mathematics), full professor; professor at the department of physical optics, faculty of physics

  • Alexander I. Stankevich, Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasti Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

    PhD (chemistry); senior researcher at the department of physical optics, faculty of physics

  • Alexander A. Muravsky, Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus

    PhD (physics and mathematics); head of the laboratory of materials and technologies of LC devices

  • Anatoli A. Muravsky, Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, F. Skaryny Street, 36, 220141, Minsk, Belarus

    PhD (physics and mathematics); leading researcher at the laboratory of the materials and technologies of LC devices

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Published

2017-09-29

Issue

No. 3 (2017): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics

Section

Optics and Spectroscopy

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How to Cite

(1)
Bezruchenko, V. S.; Mahilny, U. V.; Stankevich, A. I.; Muravsky, A. A.; Muravsky, A. A. The Formation of the Centrosymmetric Distributions of Light Intensity for Exposure of Photosensitive Alignment Layers of LC Lenses. Журнал Белорусского государственного университета. Физика 2017, No. 3, 12-19.