2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of

Modern Physics, CUPT

Liquid Crystal Optics and
Electro-Optics
Chang-Kui Duan
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Introduction
Most studied & applied properties: light-scattering ability
externally applied field control or realign the anisotropic
liquid crystal axis, thereby controlling the effective
refractive index and phase shift
form the basis for various optical transmission, reflection,
switching, and modulation applications.
LCs are noted for their large birefringence and easy
susceptibility to external field perturbation.
basic principles and seek only some general
understanding by dealing with analytically or conceptually
solvable cases.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
LCD pixel
Schematic of a
typical liquid
crystal display
pixel consisting of
electronic driving
circuit, polarizers,
liquid crystal cell,
color filter, and
phase plate
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Content
0. Introduction
1. Electro-Optics of Anisotropic and Birefringent
Crystals
2. Electro-Optics of Nematic Liquid Crystals
3. Nematic Liquid Crystal Switches and Displays
4. Electro-Optical Effects in Other Phases of Liquid
Crystals
5. Nondisplay Applications of Liquid Crystals

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
1. Electro-Optics of Anisotropic and
Birefringent Crystals
Anisotropic, Uniaxial, and Biaxial Optical Crystals
Index Ellipsoid in the Presence of an Electric
Field: Linear Electro-Optics Effect
Polarizers and Retardation Plate
Basic Electro-Optics Modulation
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Permittivity tensor
0 0 0
( )
( , , , )
i ij j i i i ij ij j
P E D P E E
i j x y z
c _ c c o _ = = + = +
=
The polarization and dielectric displacement are
now given by
The elements of the
permittivity tensor
depend on the choice
of coordinate system
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Principal axes
A coordinate system can be found such that the tensor
is diagonal i.e.
2
2
0
2
0 0
0 0
0 0
x x x
y y y
z z z
D n E
D n E
D n E
c
| |
| | | |
|
| |
=
|
| |
| |
|
\ \ . .
\ .
This coordinate system define the principal axes and
principal planes associated to the crystal.
The corresponding refractive indexes are known as
principal indexes.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Biaxial, Uniaxial & isotropic crystal
Crystals with three different principal refractive
indexes are referred to as biaxial crystals
Crystal with two different principal refractive
indexes are referred to as uniaxial crystals
For uniaxial crystals, the refractive indexes are
n
x
=n
y
=n
o
, and n
z
=n
e
where o stands for ordinary
axis and e for extraordinary axis.
If n
o
>n
e
the crystal is said to be a positive uniaxial
crystal
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Uniaxial crystal
such as nematic liquid crystal
n
1
= n
2
= n
o
, ordinary ray;

n
3
= n
e
extraordinary ray
index ellipsoid
2 2 2
2 2 2
1
x y z
x y z
n n n
+ + =
The ellipsoid in (x, y, z) intersect the axis at
x = n
x
; y = n
y
; z = n
z
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
k
Ordinary wave: D
o
perpendicular
to the z-k plane
n
o
(u) n
0
Extraordinary wave:
D
e
in the z-k plane but
perpendicular to k



( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 2
0
cos sin
1
( )
e e
n n n
u u
u
= +
For light propagate along direction k
The direction of D is in the plan
perpendicular to k.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Uniaxial crystals (cont)
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Presence of an Electric Field:
Linear Electro-Optics Effect
In the presence of an applied field, the index
ellipsoid becomes:
(1/n
2
)
i
are dependent on the applied field E.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Linear optical effect
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Examples
For a widely used electro-optics crystal such as
lithium niobate (LiNbO
3
), r
33
= 30.8 (in units of 10
-12

m/V), r
13
= 8.6,r
22
= 3.4, and r
42
= 28, with n
e
= 2.29
and n
o
= 2.20 (at 550 nm).
For these values of electro-optics coefficients (10
-11

m/V), an applied dc voltage of 10,000 V is needed
to create a phase shift of in a crystal of centimeter
length.
liquid crystal electro-optics devices, the typical ac
voltage needed is around 1 V and the liquid crystal
thickness is on the order of a few microns
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Polarizers and Retardation Plate
Typical electro-optic modulation scheme with polarizer
analyzer sandwiching an electro-optics crystals and a
retardation plate.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Linear and circular polarizers
Linear polarizers are usually made of anisotropic
absorbing materials in which the absorption along
a crystalline axis is much stronger than the
orthogonal axis
Circular polarizers are usually made by putting in
tandem() a linear polarizer and a birefringent
retardation () plate, with the polarization
vector bisecting the so-called fast and slow axes
of the retardation plate

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Polarization of output light
Various states of polarization resulting from the
addition of two orthogonal components of a polarized
light with a relative phase shift.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Basic Electro-Optics Modulation
For A is oriented at
45 with respect to
the crystalline axes
At the exit plane of the crystal of length l
crystal
0
( )
2
y x
x y
n n l
t

I = =
'
'
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Basic Electro-Optics Modulation
crystal
( ) exp( )
( ) exp( )
x x
y x
E l A t k l
E l A t k l
e
e
'
=
'
= I
By summing the components of E
x'
and E
y
'
on the
transmission axis of the output polarizer (along y)
I = I
crystal
+ phase
shift by retardation
plate.
( )
2
2
2 2
( ) . sin
2
y x y i
I E d E i E j j A
I (
| |
' '
' '
= = + =
|
(
\ .

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
2. Electro-optics of Nematic Liquid
Crystals
In general, the distortions on the electronic wave
function of liquid crystal molecules caused by an
applied field do not cause appreciable change to
its contribution to the refractive indices
However, the orientation of the molecules can be
dramatically altered by the applied field
principal mechanism used in liquid-crystal-based
electro-optical devices.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Dual-Frequency Liquid Crystals
transparent conductor ITO to allow the
application of an electric field across the cell
AC instead of DC:
Avoid current flow,
degration
along E
away E
e o
e o
n n
n n
>
<
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Mixing and doping
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Dual-frequency liquid crystal
Since the dielectric anisotropy is frequency
dependent (cf. Fig. 3.5), one could create a
mixture of liquid crystals with different dielectric
dispersions such that the resulting so-called dual-
frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) possesses an
effective positive anisotropy at one frequency of
the applied ac electric field, but possesses a
negative anisotropy at another ac frequency.

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Freedericksz Transition Revisited
Geometry for observing
(a) the S (splay)
deformation, (b) the B
(bend) deformation, and
(c) the T (twist)
deformation.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Case 1: One-elastic-constant
approximation.
2 2
2
sin cos 0
4
d E
K
dz
u c
u u
t
+ =
1/ 2
2
0
2
cos(2 )
2 8
cos(2 )
8
m
m
d E
c d
K
E
c
K
u
c
u u
t
c
u
t

(
= +
(

=
}
Standard variation method:

Reminder:
u(2/d)=u
m
du/dz |
z=2/d
=0!

1/ 2
2
d
cos(2 )
dz 8
E
c
K
u c
u
t
(
= +
(

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Solution
For relatively small reorientation angles
only if E > E
F
1/ 2
4
F F
K
V E d
t
t
c
| |
= =
|
\ .
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Case 2: Freedericksz transition voltage
including elastic anisotropies.
1/ 2
11
4
F F
K
V E d
t
t
c
| |
= =
|
\ .
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Case 3: Freedericksz transition voltage
including elastic conductivity.
The maximum reorientation angle u
m
is described by
( )
1/ 2
11
33 11 11
4
=
F
K
V K K K
t
t k
c
| |
=
|
\ .

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Field-Induced Refractive Index Change
and Phase Shift
Director axis reorientation
profile in the cell at
various applied voltage
above the Freedericksz
transition.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Phase shift for light passing through
Approximation:
Twisted configuration with maximum angle 90
0
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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current liquid crystal display devices:
twisted configuration.
Tilting and unwinding of the director axis of a 90
twisted nematic liquid crystal cell under the action
of an applied field.

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
3. NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL
SWITCHES AND DISPLAYS
To obtain higher resolution, faster response, wider field
of view, larger display area, and more functions in
each display pixel.
Two types: transmissive and reflective
make use of the polarizing and birefringent properties
conjunction with polarizers and phase (retardation)
plates
broadband (from near UV to far infrared)
birefringence, and transparency
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
A twisted nematic liquid-crystal switch.
(a) When the electric
field is absent, the
LC cell acts as a
polarization rotator;
the light is trans-
mitted.
(b) When the electric
field is present, the
cells rotatory power
is suspended and
the light is blocked.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Liquid Crystal Switch: On-Axis
Consideration for Twist,
Planar, and Homeotropic Aligned Cells
normally black (NB) mode: two parallel polarizers
normally white (NW) mode: two orthogonal
polarizers


2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Off-Axis Transmission, Viewing Angle,
and Birefringence Compensation
Has to be considered for display application
transmission function T is now a function of many
variables
Example: NB mode
For on-axis light, the initial transmission is 0.
When the voltage is on, the transmission is at a
maximum for the on-axis light
for the off-axis light, the e and o waves will pick up
an extra phase shift because of the extra optical
path length
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Birefringent compensation film
to place a birefringent film (of opposite anisotropy
to that of the liquid crystal) adjacent to the LC film
limiting case of |= 0
compensation film should have birefringence of
opposite sign to that of the liquid crystal
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Sophisticated treatment
For arbitrary angle | or director axis angular
and spatial distributions, and more complicated
cell structure, the phase shift, and therefore the
transmission of light through the cell and other
accompanying polarization selective elements, is
not amenable to simple analytical treatment. More
sophisticated Jones matrix methods or numerical
technique such as the finite difference time
domain (FDTD) numerical methods discussed in
the next chapter are needed to solve such a
complex propaga- tion problem.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Liquid Crystal Display Electronics
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Optical modulation of LCD
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
4. Electro-optical Effects in Other
Phases of Liquid Crystals
nematics are the most extensively used
other phases (smectic, cholesteric, etc.) and
mixed systems capable of field-induced
reorientation have also been employed for electro-
optical studies and applications
ferroelectric liquid crystals, generally switch faster
than nematic cells

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Surface Stabilized FLC
Ferroelectric liquid crystal under an applied field,

Typical values:
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Approximation
Under the assumption that e is appreciable, the
first term can be neglected:
solution
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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An practical case
u: tilt angle
phase retardation :
o = 2tdAn/
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Soft-Mode FLCs




SMFLCs use
changes in the tilt u
while | remains
constant. capable
of continuous
intensity change

SMFLCs employ
smectic-A* phase

experimental setup

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
5. NONDISPLAY APPLICATIONS OF
LIQUID CRYSTALS
extremely broad spectral range (from near UV to
far infrared and into the microwave regime).
fluid nature and compatibility with most
optoelectronic materials
a whole host of tunable lens, filters, switches, and
beam/image processing devices have emerged.
good candidates for biochemical sensing
applications due to organic nature
light emitting diodes and electroluminescence
devices
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
LC Spatial Light Modulator

A typical optically
addressed liquid
crystal spatial light
modulator
(OALCSLM)
operating in the
reflective mode

2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Tunable Photonic Crystals with LC
Infiltrated Nanostructures

Photonic crystals in 1-, 2- and 3D forms made of
various optoelectronic materials
photonic crystals can function as tunable filters,
switches, and lasing devices
optical holography offers a quick one-step process
for the fabrication of photonic crystals (limited)


2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
Modern Physics, CUPT
Tunable Frequency Selective Planar
Structures
Transmission
reflection
Unit cell of an all-dielectric
polarization independent
FSS for operation in the
visible region as a stop-
band filter.
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Covered with LC
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Liquid Crystals for Molecular Sensing
and Detection
2012/4/6 Chang-Kui Duan, Institute of
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Beam Steering, Routing, and Optical
Switching and Laser Hardened Optics
Although most optical elements involve low level
light, liquid crystals are actually excellent laser-
hardened materials capable of handling very
intense pulsed lasers or high power continuous
wave cw lasers.
Intensity 10
10
W/cm
2
liquid crystals also do not suffer any
structural/chemical damages.