Open AccessOptical control of the rotation of cholesteric liquid crystal gratings
Author(s) -
Andy Ying–Guey Fuh,
TsungHsien Lin,
Yan-Yu Chen,
Cheng-Chang Li,
HungChang Jau
Publication year - 2019
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.27.010806
Subject(s) - optics , grating , materials science , diffraction grating , axial symmetry , liquid crystal , rotation (mathematics) , cholesteric liquid crystal , optical axis , diffraction , diffraction efficiency , beam steering , optoelectronics , beam (structure) , physics , computer science , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , lens (geology)
Two photoalignment-based methods to achieve orientational control of optical diffractions by cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) fingerprint gratings are proposed and demonstrated. A trace of methyl red in the CLC host can effectively induce surface alignment upon linearly polarized green exposure and enable optically rewritable alignment. An effective rotation of the photo-aligned CLC grating is attained by changing the surface alignment axis. Using axially symmetric photoalignment, electrically tunable radial and concentric gratings are also realized. 1D grating diffraction is produced by operating off-axis and can be rotated by mechanically moving the axially symmetric grating. Such optical gratings have great potential for practical use in vibration detection, multi-directional optical modulations, and beam steering.