POLARIZATION EIGENSTATES FOR TWISTED-NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAYS

Citation
Ja. Davis et al., POLARIZATION EIGENSTATES FOR TWISTED-NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAYS, Applied optics, 37(5), 1998, pp. 937-945
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
ISSN journal
00036935
Volume
37
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
937 - 945
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-6935(1998)37:5<937:PEFTLD>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
We derive theoretical expressions for the eigenvalues and the eigenvec tors for a twisted-nematic liquid-crystal display (LCD) as a function of the twist angle and the birefringence by use of the Jones-matrix fo rmalism. These polarization eigenvectors are of particular interest fo r phase-only transmission because they propagate unchanged through the display. We find that the eigenvectors are elliptically polarized and that the ellipticity changes as a function of the birefringence of th e LCD (which is proportional to the external voltage applied to the di splay). me can define an average eigenvector over a desired range for the applied voltage. We show, using Jones matrices, how this average e igenvector can be generated using a quarter-wave plate and a linear po larizer having appropriate orientation angles. Using this average eige nvector, we show that superior phase-only operation can be obtained ov er a given operating range for the LCD compared with other approaches. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.