Parameterizing liquid crystal variable retarder structural organization with a fractal-Born approximation model

James C. Gladish; Donald D. Duncan

doi:10.1117/1.OE.55.5.054104

10 May 2016 Parameterizing liquid crystal variable retarder structural organization with a fractal-Born approximation model

James C. Gladish, Donald D. Duncan

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 55, Issue 5, 054104 (May 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.5.054104

Abstract

Liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) are computer-controlled birefringent devices that contain nanometer-sized birefringent liquid crystals (LCs). These devices impart retardance effects through a global, uniform orientation change of the LCs, which is based on a user-defined drive voltage input. In other words, the LC structural organization dictates the device functionality. The LC structural organization also produces a spectral scatter component which exhibits an inverse power law dependence. We investigate LC structural organization by measuring the voltage-dependent LC spectral scattering signature with an integrating sphere and then relate this observable to a fractal-Born model based on the Born approximation and a Von Kármán spectrum. We obtain LCVR light scattering spectra at various drive voltages (i.e., different LC orientations) and then parameterize LCVR structural organization with voltage-dependent correlation lengths. The results can aid in determining performance characteristics of systems using LCVRs and can provide insight into interpreting structural organization measurements.

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James C. Gladish and Donald D. Duncan "Parameterizing liquid crystal variable retarder structural organization with a fractal-Born approximation model," Optical Engineering 55(5), 054104 (10 May 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.5.054104

Published: 10 May 2016

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