Polarizer-free and fast response microlens arrays using polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals

Abstract

We demonstrate polarizer-free and fast response microlens arrays based on optical phase modulation of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (PSBP-LC). Polarization-independent optical phase shift is because the propagation of an incident light is along the optic axis of PSBP-LC, and birefringence of PSBP-LC induced by Kerr effect results in electrically tunable optical phase shift. The measured optical phase shift of a PSBP-LC phase modulation is around pi radian at 150 V(rms) for the cell gap of 7 mu. The response time is about 3 ms. The focal length is around 13.1 cm at 100 V(rms).