Tunable-Focus Liquid Crystal Lens with Non-Planar Electrodes

    Authors

    S. L. Subota; V. Y. Reshetnyak; H. W. Ren;S. T. Wu

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Mol. Cryst. Liquid Cryst.

    Keywords

    Gradient index lens; non-planar electrode; tunable liquid crystal lens; FOCAL LENGTH TUNABILITY; MICROLENS; Crystallography

    Abstract

    We study a tunable-focus lens with convex and flat electrodes in a homogeneous liquid crystal (LC) cell. In a voltage-on state, a centro-symmetric gradient refractive index is generated within the LC layer, which causes the focusing behavior for the extraordinary wave. There have been experimental studies of the systems with spherical or parabolic shape of the top electrodes and there is a need in the theoretical modeling. We present a theoretical model of the lens with spherical top electrode and analyze its properties. We solve the Maxwell equations that are coupled to the Euler-Lagrange equations from the variational principle applied to the total free energy minimization. LC director spatial profile is found subject to the applied voltage. After that the phase retardation profile of the test light beam is calculated and thus a focal length dependence on the applied field. The simulation results agree well with experimental data. This LC lens has advantages in relatively large focal length range and low operating voltage.

    Journal Title

    Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals

    Volume

    526

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    93

    Last Page

    100

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000281166600011

    ISSN

    1542-1406

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