Polarization-universal bandgap in periodically twisted nematics

Cholesteric liquid crystals are known to possess bandgap and exhibit strong reflection for one of two circular polarizations of light. We suggest a periodically twisted nematic liquid crystal as a medium, which possesses bandgap and exhibits strong reflection for any polarization of normally inciden...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 2006-06, Vol.31 (11), p.1678-1680
Main Authors: SARKISSIAN, Hakob, ZELDOVICH, Boris Ya, TABIRYAN, Nelson V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Display devices, liquid-crystal devices
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Holographic optical elements
holographic gratings
Holography
Liquid crystals
Optical elements, devices, and systems
Optical materials
Optics
Physics
Volume holograms
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Summary:Cholesteric liquid crystals are known to possess bandgap and exhibit strong reflection for one of two circular polarizations of light. We suggest a periodically twisted nematic liquid crystal as a medium, which possesses bandgap and exhibits strong reflection for any polarization of normally incident light. Two possible structures are considered: a sinusoidal modulation profile and a rectangular modulation profile. In both cases, the maximum bandgap of a periodically twisted structure is approximately twice as narrow as that of cholesterics. However, the polarization properties of these structures may make them more advantageous than cholesterics in a variety of applications.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.31.001678