Formation of liquid crystal gratings with crystal/quasicrystal patterns through photoalignment

Abstract

In this study, a simple method for generation of liquid crystal (LC) grating with crystal/quasicrystal/kaleidoscopic patterns via photoalignment is proposed. The crystal/quasicrystal/kaleidoscopic patterns are created using multiple-beam interference when the recording beam is divided into multiple beams by passing a multiple-aperture mask and focused by a lens. Two-dimensional (2D) patterns are recorded on LC cells based on the laser-induced adsorption of azo dyes that guide the orientation of the LC molecules. Measurements indicate that the 2D LC gratings with crystal/quasicrystal patterns are electro-optically tunable and possess polarisation-independent diffraction efficiency.