Cholesteric liquid crystal structure

摘要

A liquid crystal optical device that includes a first substrate layer that is substantially flat and a second substrate layer that is substantially flat and parallel to the first substrate layer. The liquid crystal optical device further includes a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer, where the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal is arranged in domains, each domain having a helical axis, wherein the helical axes of the domains have a plurality of orientations relative to an orientation of the first and second substrate layers, and where a wavefront of a light wave having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths changes after reflecting from the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal.

主权项

1. A method for reflecting light from a liquid crystal optical device, comprising:
applying a voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal comprises a plurality of domains, each domain having a helical axis, the helical axes of the plurality of domains having different orientations, wherein the different orientations are configured to cause the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal to act as a positive or negative lens with respect to a range of wavelengths such that light within the range of wavelengths incident upon the first substrate layer is reflected by the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal in a converging or diverging manner; and varying the voltage to modify a degree of convergence or divergence caused by the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal; wherein the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal is substantially flat.