Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Title

Arbitrary Photopatterning in Liquid Crystal Alignments using DMD Based Lithography System

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

We propose and implement a technique for arbitrary pattern fabrication in liquid crystal (LC) alignments and local polarization control for light wavefront. A micro-lithography system with a digital micro-mirror device as dynamic mask forms arbitrary micro-images on photoalignment layers and further guides the LC molecule orientations. Besides normal phase gratings, more complex 2D patterns such as quasicrystal and checkerboard structures are demonstrated. To characterize the optical performances of the fabricated structures, the electro-optically tunable diffraction patterns and efficiencies are demonstrated in several 1D/2D phase gratings. Compared to other techniques, our method enables the arbitrary and instant manipulation of LC alignments and light polarization states, facilitating wide applications in display and photonic fields.

Publication Title

Optics Express

Volume

20

Issue

15

First Page

16684

Last Page

16689

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