Holographically formed, acoustically switchable gratings based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystals.
We report holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) gratings driven by surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Our experiments show that upon applying SAWs, the H-PDLC grating exhibited switchable properties: The diffraction of the H-PDLC grating decreased, whereas the transmission increased. This acoustically switchable behavior is due to the acoustic streaming-induced realignment of liquid crystals as well as absorption-resulted thermal diffusion. Such SAW-driven H-PDLC gratings are potentially useful in many photonic applications, such as optical switches, spatial light modulators, and switchable add/drop filters.
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA.
Yan Jun
YJ
Liu
Mengqian
M
Lu
Xiaoyun
X
Ding
Eunice S P
ES
Leong
Sz-Chin Steven
SC
Lin
Jinjie
J
Shi
Jing Hua
JH
Teng
Lin
L
Wang
Timothy J
TJ
Bunning
Tony Jun
TJ
Huang
D000818:Animals; D006696:Holography; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D036103:Nanotechnology; D033363:Neutron Diffraction / Q000379:methods*; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000639:trends; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013016:Sound
D010087:Oxides; D011108:Polymers; D009556:Niobium; C091692:lithium niobate