Open AccessOptically-tunable beam steering grating based n azobenzene doped cholesteric liquid crystal
Author(s) -
Hung Chang Jau,
TsungHsien Lin,
Ri Xin Fung,
San Yi Huang,
J. H. Liu,
Andy Ying–Guey Fuh
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.017498
Subject(s) - azobenzene , photoisomerization , materials science , optics , beam steering , liquid crystal , diffraction efficiency , diffraction grating , grating , irradiation , diffraction , beam (structure) , optoelectronics , isomerization , chemistry , physics , polymer , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , composite material , catalysis
This work proposes an optically controllable beam-steering device, fabricated using cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) that are doped with azobenzene. The trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene changes the pitch of the CLC fingerprint structure and shifts the diffraction angle. The diffraction angle increases when the cell is irradiated with UV light, and restored when it is irradiated with green light. Combining the photoisomerization effect with electrical effect, the CLC beam-steering device provides a steering angle of approximately 19 degrees. The tuning is continuous and could be completed within a few seconds.