Simulation Study on Polarization-Independent Microlens Arrays Utilizing Blue Phase Liquid Crystals with Spatially-Distributed Kerr Constants

Abstract

Polarization independent liquid crystal (LC) microlens arrays based on controlling the spatial distribution of the Kerr constants of blue phase LC are simulated. Each sub-lens with a parabolic distribution of Kerr constants results in a parabolic phase profile when a homogeneous electric field is applied. We evaluate the phase distribution under different applied voltages, and the focusing properties of the microlens arrays are simulated. We also calculate polarization dependency of the microlenses arrays at oblique incidence of light. The impact of this study is to provide polarizer-free, electrically tunable focusing microlens arrays with simple electrode design based on the Kerr effect.

Special Issue on Microlenses

“…The basic operating principles and recent progress are introduced and reviewed for two types of fast-response microlenses based on LC/polymer composites: polymer dispersed/stabilized nematic LC and polymer-stabilized blue phase LC. Chen et al [2] propose a polarization independent LC microlens arrays based on controlling the spatial distribution of the Kerr constants of blue phase LC; the concept is supported by simulation. Two papers are on adaptive liquid lenses actuated via electrowetting.…”