Dual Frequency Liquid Crystal Devices for Infrared Electro-Optical Applications

摘要

A dual frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) can be field-driven towards its unperturbed state, which dramatically reduces the overall electro-optical response time. DFLC materials with sub-millisecond switching speed are being used in infrared electro-optical devices at wavelengths up to 3 microns. The performance of devices such as tunable half-wave plates and optical phased arrays in agile beam steering devices, and wavefront controllers for adaptive optics are described. Device issues discussed include drive schemes, field of view, reflective direct drive backplane, infrared-transparent conductors, and antireflection coatings.