Switchable diffraction grating based on a two-dimensional array of liquid crystal domains
Abstract
The technique of fabricating a two-dimensional array of liquid crystal domains with twist-planar director orientation functioning as a two-dimensional phase diffraction grating has been improved. The correspondence of the director orientation in the volume of the liquid crystal layer to the given geometry has been established by the polarised light microscopy. The influence of electric voltage on diffraction and polarisation properties of the proposed two-dimensional grating has been experimentally studied. The optimal value of the applied voltage providing the maximum values of diffraction efficiency in the first diffraction orders has been found. The rotation angles of the polarisation plane of the transmitted radiation, as well as of the radiation diffracted into the first orders in the voltage-off state and under optimal voltage applied have been determined. It is established that light beams diffracted in the first orders are characterised by a higher degree of ellipticity compared to the transmitted light beam, which is related to the phase overrun in the nematic liquid crystal layer. It is shown that the transmitted and diffracted light beams are characterised by orthogonal polarisations. The proposed diffraction grating based on a two-dimensional array of liquid crystal domains provides spatial distribution of the input optical signal through several channels with the possibility of controlling the polarisation state and the diffraction efficiency value, which opens up the prospects for their application in devices realising the control of the optical signal.
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