Beam steering device based on blue phase liquid crystal

Abstract

Abstract A micro-optical device for beam steering using polymer microprism array (PMA) and blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) is proposed. In order to exhibit the polarization-independent property of the device, the dielectric coefficient of the PMA used in the simulation is set equal to that of the BPLC material. In a state in which an external field is not applied, the direction of the incoming light perpendicular to the surface of the device does not change because the refractive index of the BPLC material matches the polymer refractive index. The proposed beam steering device is suitable for micro beam deflection. Therefore, Snell’s law can be used to calculate the deflection angle of micro beam. According to Snell’s law, the beam deflection angle changes from 0°to 1.65°with the increase of applied voltage.