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Bistable switching of polarization-grating diffractions enabled by a front bistable twisted nematic film.
- Source :
-
Optics letters [Opt Lett] 2019 Jan 15; Vol. 44 (2), pp. 187-190. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Bistable electrical switching of high-efficiency grating diffractions is realized by adding a front π-bistable twisted nematic (π-BTN) cell to a passive liquid crystal polarization grating (LCPG). The π-BTN cell can be switched between stable non- and 180°-twisted states, acting as a polarization converter that switches the polarization of a laser beam and thus changes the diffraction behavior of the LCPG. Both states of the π-BTN cell are stable and can be reversibly switched to each other by applying a voltage pulse of different frequencies. We experimentally demonstrate two bistable-switching operations: (i) the BTN-LCPG can either split or deflect the laser beam; and (ii) the BTN-LCPG can selectively diffract the laser beam to the +1st and -1st orders, while maintaining a high diffraction efficiency of ∼90%. With electrical switchability, a simple optical design, and low power consumption, the proposed BTN-LCPG concept is favorable in various applications.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1539-4794
- Volume :
- 44
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Optics letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30644857
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.44.000187