Application of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals to Optical Devices

Abstract

Liquid crystals (LCs) are attractive for optical devices, such as lenses because of their large birefringence and high response to external field. However, the low-speed response of nematic LCs often becomes an obstacle to the progress of LC devices. In this study, we research the lens effect of ferroelectric LC by using a voltage-gradient cell. As a result, it is found that in order to obtain the lens effect in FLC, the wide cell gap, the large tilt angle and/or the large birefringence of FLC materials are necessary to increase the birefringence variation under the gradient voltage in addition to the monostabilization of FLC media.

Keywords:

• Ferroelectric liquid crystal
• lens
• wide cell gap
• polymer stabilization
• birefringence
• voltage gradient cell

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. H. Takatsu, Dr. H. Hasebe and Dr. I. Nishiyama of DIC for supplying the liquid crystal and mesogenic materials. The authors also thank Dr. H. Fukuro and Mr. H. Endoh of Nissan Chem. Ind. for supplying polyimide materials.