Nanosecond liquid crystalline optical modulator
An optical modulator includes a liquid crystal cell containing liquid crystal material having liquid crystal molecules oriented along a quiescent director direction in the unbiased state, and a voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material wherein the direction of the applied electric field does not cause the quiescent director direction to change. An optical source is arranged to transmit light through or reflect light off the liquid crystal cell with the light passing through the liquid crystal material at an angle effective to undergo phase retardation in response to the voltage source applying the electric field. The liquid crystal material may have negative dielectric anisotropy, and the voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material whose electric field vector is transverse to the quiescent director direction. Alternatively, the liquid crystal material may have positive dielectric anisotropy and the voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material whose electric field vector is parallel with the quiescent director direction.
- Research Organization:
- KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, Kent, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-06ER46331
- Assignee:
- KENT STATE UNIVERSITY (Kent, OH)
- Patent Number(s):
- 9,400,412
- Application Number:
- 14/332,502
- OSTI ID:
- 1273280
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Nanosecond Electro-Optic Switching of a Liquid Crystal
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journal | September 2013 |
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