Molecular orientation effects in liquid crystals and application to novel optical devices

Abstract

The optical properties of the liquid crystal (LC) can easily be controlled by applying a relatively low electric field. Then, some applications of LCs to optical devices can be attained in addition to display devices. As the optical devices prepared using the molecular orientation effects in nematic LCs, beginning and details of the development of LC lenses and other LC optical devices studied by our research group are reviewed. Improvements of the LC lens with variable focusing properties and new LC lenses with different structures are reported. LC gratings, polarization conversion devices, quasi-optical devices, optical logic devices and other LC devices are also described.