We report the ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) Pancharatnam-Berry lenses (PBLs) with rapid transmittance tunability. The FLC PBLs were fabricated using a single-step holographic exposure system based on a spatial light modulator working as numerous polarization retarders, providing a simple way to fabricate FLC continuous aligning structures. A state-selection sector containing a binary FLC switch was utilized for fast changing input light’s polarization handedness. Thus, when light passes through a FLC PBL, the output light’s polarization handedness can be switched accordingly. In this case, FLC PBLs can function as concave/convex lenses with rapidly switching speed. Photo sensitive azo-dye material was used as the aligning layer for both FLC PBLs and FLC switches. The fabricated FLC PBLs and the FLC switches show fast switching-on times of 150μs and 50μs respectively. The FLC PBLs combining with the state-selection sector can have potential applications on varies displays and augmented reality.
We report a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) compound lens based on the Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase. The phase of the FLC compound lens is an integration of polarization grating and a PB lens. Thus, when light passes through an FLC compound lens, the output light’s polarization handedness will be changed accordingly. In this case, FLC compound lenses can function as concave/convex lenses with spatially separated output light and rapid transmittance tunability. The FLC compound lenses were fabricated using a single-step holographic exposure system, based on a spatial light modulator working as numerous phase retarders. Photosensitive azo-dye material was used as the aligning layer. The output light transmittance of the FLC compound lens can be operated at 150 μs. Our results achieve the potential applications on various displays and augmented reality.
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