Formation of liquid crystal gratings with crystal/quasicrystal patterns through photoalignment

ABSTRACT

In this study, a simple method for generation of liquid crystal (LC) grating with crystal/quasicrystal/kaleidoscopic patterns via photoalignment is proposed. The crystal/quasicrystal/kaleidoscopic patterns are created using multiple-beam interference when the recording beam is divided into multiple beams by passing a multiple-aperture mask and focused by a lens. Two-dimensional (2D) patterns are recorded on LC cells based on the laser-induced adsorption of azo dyes that guide the orientation of the LC molecules. Measurements indicate that the 2D LC gratings with crystal/quasicrystal patterns are electro-optically tunable and possess polarisation-independent diffraction efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal
• photoalignment
• azo dye
• grating
• quasicrystal pattern

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [MOST 108-2112-M-150-001 and MOST 108-2112-M-019-001-]