Electrically Switchable High-Fold-Helix Spiral Phase Plate Based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

摘要

In this study, high-fold-helix spiral phase plates (SPPs) based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) with fold numbers / ＞ 45 are fabricated. The helical light modes modulated by the plates are demonstrated. The beam profiles of the helical modes emerging from the PDLC SPPs are measured using a laser beam profiler. The results show that the beam radius of the principal maximum is linearly proportional to the / of the plate. The images of a laser beam diffracted from SPPs are recorded and found to agree well with calculations based on Fourier transformation.