Fresnel lenses based on dye-doped liquid crystals

Liang Chen Lin, Ko Ting Cheng, Cheng Kai Liu, Chi Lun Ting, Hung Chang Jau, Tsung Hsien Lin, Andy Y.G. Fuh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrated transmissive- and reflective-type Fresnel lenses based on dye-doped liquid crystal using photoalignment technique. The former is a polarization-independent and electrically tunable. The maximum diffraction efficiency reaches 37%, which approaches the theoretical limit ∼ 41 %. Such a lens functions as a half-wave plate, and this feature could be well preserved under the applied voltage. The reflective-type Fresnel lens is based on dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystals (DDCLC). The formed lens persists without any external disturbance, and its focusing efficiency, analyzed using circularly polarized light, is ∼23.7%, which almost equals the measured diffraction efficiency of the used Fresnel-zone-plate mask (∼ 25.6 %). The lens is thermally erasable, and rewritable. Notably, both of the transmissive- and reflective-type Fresnel lenses are switchable between focusing and defocusing states, upon application of a voltage. In addition, these devices are simple to fabricate, and have fast switching responses between focusing and defocusing state.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEmerging Liquid Crystal Technologies III
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
EventEmerging Liquid Crystal Technologies III - San Jose, CA, United States
Duration: 20 Jan 200822 Jan 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6911
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceEmerging Liquid Crystal Technologies III
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Jose, CA
Period20/01/0822/01/08

Keywords

  • Adsorption
  • Azo dye
  • Fresnel lens
  • Liquid crystal

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