Optically controllable and focus-tunable Fresnel lens in azo-dye-doped liquid crystals using a Sagnac interferometer

Opt Lett. 2011 Apr 15;36(8):1311-3. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.001311.

Abstract

This study demonstrates a tunable Fresnel lens in an azo-dye-doped liquid crystal (ADDLC) film using an interference technique. One Fresnel-patterned green beam using a Sagnac interferometer irradiated the UV-illuminated ADDLC cell, yielding a concentric zone plate distribution with homeotropic and isotropic structures in bright and dark regions of the green interference pattern. The proposed Fresnel lens is polarization independent, focus tunable, and the focusing efficiency of the device can be optically controlled.

MeSH terms

  • Azo Compounds / chemistry*
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Interferometry / instrumentation*
  • Lenses*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Optical Phenomena*

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • Coloring Agents