We present a flexoelectro-optic liquid crystal (LC) analog phase modulator with >2𝜋 phase range at a 1 kHz switching frequency. The chiral nematic LC mixture consists of the bimesogen CBC7CB with chiral dopant R5011, aligned in the uniform lying helix mode. The mixture exhibits >±𝜋/4 rotation of the optic axis for a drive voltage of ±21.5 V (𝐸=±4.5 V μm−1). The rotation of the optic axis is converted into a phase modulation with the aid of a reflective device configuration incorporating a ∼5 μm LC cell, a polarizer, two quarter-wave plates, and a mirror. The residual amplitude modulation is found to be ≺23%. This flexoelectro-optic phase modulator combination has the potential to enable analog spatial light modulators with very fast frame rates suitable for a range of applications.
Materials by design for sustainable solutions in the energy, medical, transport, and engineering sectors
