POLICRYPS structures as switchable optical phase modulators

摘要: We report on the electrically controlled optical phase modulator behavior of light sculptured periodic structures made polymer slices alternated to films well aligned Liquid Crystals (POLICRYPS). Arbitrarily polarized normally incident structure experiences a birefringence that depends anisotropy composite liquid crystalline material and geometrical cell parameters. The sample behaves as retardation plate in good agreement with Jones matrices formalism. Birefringence tuning is obtained by applying suitable voltage, while negligible variation detected increasing incidence power. This makes POLICRYPS switchable retarders for high power laser beams.