The Optical Element Based on a Planar Waveguide with Liquid Crystal Core

Abstract

One of the important disadvantages of information display devices based on the cholesteric-nematic effect is a low contrast level. We propose a new constructive decision to solve this problem. The classic sandwich cell is a planar waveguide taking into account the correlation between the glass refraction index and the liquid crystal layer refraction index. Therefore, in a liquid crystal layer (at the homeotropic texture) the minimum amount of light radiation propagates along the planar waveguide and is scattered perpendicularly to the propagation direction. However, in the liquid crystal layer, the confocal texture is obtained due to a voltage change, and it leads to the light scattering. This constructive solution provides the increase in the contrast level.

Keywords:

• cholesteric-nematic transition
• optical element
• planar waveguide