Investigation of the optical properties of the liquid crystal-based devices via Mueller matrix formalism

摘要

A model approach for the Mueller matrix (MM) of the twisted nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator (TNLC-SLM) was proposed. In the first part of the study, the MM of the TNLC cell in the absence of applied voltage was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. In the second part, the model approach was improved by considering the reorientation of both tilt and azimuth angles of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules in the presence of applied voltage. Comparison of the theoretical MM elements with the experimental ones from the literature showed that, instead of decaying exponentially, the azimuth angle rotates with respect to the cell walls in a critical voltage range before the molecules are completely untwisted. It also pointed out that the effect of the tilt and the azimuth angles of the molecules on the optical properties of the light travelling in the LC cell could change depending on the polarization state of the input light and the voltage applied to the cell.