Open AccessMultiplex diffraction from functionalized polymer liquid crystals and polarization conversion
Author(s) -
Hiroshi Ono,
Akira Emoto,
Nobuhiro Kawatsuki,
Takako Hasegawa
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.11.002379
Subject(s) - polarization (electrochemistry) , materials science , optics , diffraction , liquid crystal , diffraction efficiency , polymer , diffraction grating , optoelectronics , grating , physics , chemistry , composite material
We report on polymer liquid crystals with periodically oriented mesogenic side chains and demonstrate that the resulting two-dimensional polarization gratings multiplex-diffract the laser beam and convert the polarization state at the same time. Two-dimensional diffraction patterns with various kinds of polarization states can be successfully generated by designing a combination of one-dimensional polarization gratings. This study is a considerable advance towards the realization of highly functionalized passive optical devices that can control both the beam propagation direction and the polarization state.