Abstract
We demonstrate patterned polarizers for visible wavelengths using dichroic dye in a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) host. Contact lithography is used to pattern a thin alignment layer, which subsequently transfers the pattern to the LCP. A gray dichroic dye mixture for the visible spectrum is optimized and implemented along with LCP to fabricate this polarizer. A peak extinction ratio of 41 was measured at a 633 nm wavelength, while simultaneously showing patterns as small as 3 μm. Finally, multi layer films are demonstrated by fabricating a two layer patterned circular polarizer consisting of a quarter-wave retarder and a color polarizer. Our process has applications in three-dimensional displays, interferometry, optical storage, and polarimeters.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 27777-27786 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Optics Express |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 26 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 20 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics