Liquid crystal devices are being used in many non-display udapplications in order to construct small devices controlled by low voltage electronics without mechanical components. udIn this work, we present a novel liquid crystal device for udlaser beam steering. In this device the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled. A change in the liquid crystal orientation results in a change of the refractive index. When a laser beam passes through the device, the beam will be deviated (Fig.1) and the device works a prism. udThe main difference between this device and a prism is that in the device the orientation profile of the liquid crystal molecules can be modified so that the laser beam can be deviated a required angle: the uddevice is tuneable.
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