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Driving liquid crystal lens without LC molecular orientation defects induced by an electric field

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Abstract

Using the finite element method, we numerically investigated the transient behavior of molecular orientations of a liquid crystal (LC) lens with a circular electrode beside a hole-patterned electrode and a common flat electrode that has a resistive film. The transient properties of a three-dimensional electric field and the molecular orientations of the LC were simultaneously calculated when voltages were applied across a circular electrode/circularly hole-patterned electrode and a common electrode. The axially symmetric and bell-like distribution of the refractive index could also be obtained. When relatively high voltages were applied to the LC lens, LC molecular orientation defects, such as the disclination line, occurred in the inner region of the circularly hole-patterned electrode. The behavior of the LC directors at the defects were estimated, and transient properties of their phase profiles were predicted via numerical calculation. The spherical distribution of phase retardation without defects could be exhibited by applying a relatively high voltage with short switching on and switching off.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prof. Satoru Yoshimura for technical advice with the thin film fabrication. We also thank Prof. Susumu Sato for lending his expertise on the fundamental theory of liquid crystal lenses. This work was partially supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17K06368 and 20K04591.

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  1. Department of Mathematical Science and Electrical-Electronic-Computer Engineering, Akita University, 1-1Tegtagakuen-cho, Akita, 010-8502, Japan

    Marenori Kawamura, Mohamad Ridhuan Nain Bin Rasidi & Yuki Ichimura

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  1. Marenori Kawamura
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  3. Yuki Ichimura
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Correspondence to Marenori Kawamura.

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Kawamura, M., Rasidi, M.R.N.B. & Ichimura, Y. Driving liquid crystal lens without LC molecular orientation defects induced by an electric field. Opt Rev 28, 295–303 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10043-021-00661-9

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