2a09 Polarization holographic gratings recorded in liquid crystal cells doped with a photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystal

Abstract

Holographic diffraction gratings were recorded in a low-molecular-weight nematic liquid crystal (LC) doped with trace amounts of photocrosslinkable polymer LC (PPLC) by using a UV laser. We measured diffraction properties of the recorded gratings, and confirmed that polarization gratings consist of spatial distribution of optical anisotropy were induced in the LC cell due to the axis-selective photocrosslinking of the PPLC. In addition, it was demonstrated that the diffraction properties of the gratings can be controlled by applying an external voltage to the LC cell.