Poincaré Sphere Method for Optimizing the Phase Modulation Response of a Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Display

Author

Durán, Vicente ; Lancis, Jesús ; Tajahuerce, Enrique ; Climent, Vicent

Author_Institution

Dept. de Fisica, Univ. Jaume I, Castello

Volume

3

Issue

1

fYear

2007

fDate

3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

9

Lastpage

14

Abstract

We report an experimental procedure for achieving spatial modulation of the phase of an input wave field with an off-the-shelf twisted nematic liquid crystal display. This method involves illumination of an addressed liquid crystal display (LCD) with circularly polarized light and measurement of the Stokes parameters of the outgoing beam as the applied voltage is changed. The analysis of the distribution of the polarization states in the S₁-S₂ plane suggests a simple way to optimize the liquid crystal phase response by means of a properly oriented quarter wave-plate followed by an analyzer. Laboratory results for a commercial display are presented. A phase modulation depth of 240deg is obtained at 514 nm with a residual intensity variation which is lower than 4%

Keywords

liquid crystal displays; luminescence; nematic liquid crystals; optical modulation; phase modulation; Poincare sphere method; Stokes parameters; circularly polarized light; liquid crystal phase response optimization; phase modulation response; quarter wave-plate; spatial light modulator; twisted nematic liquid crystal display; Calibration; Lighting; Liquid crystal displays; Optical devices; Optical modulation; Optical polarization; Optical retarders; Optimization methods; Phase modulation; Voltage; Liquid crystal displays (LCDs); phase modulation; polarization; spatial light modulators (SLMs);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Display Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1551-319X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JDT.2006.890710

Filename

4114314