Polarization controllable spatial filter based on azo-dye-doped liquid-crystal film

This investigation establishes the feasibility of exploiting the surface-assisted photoalignment effect in dye-doped liquid-crystal (DDLC) films as spatial filters with controllable polarization in optical signal processing. The fabrication relies on the fact that the various intensities of the diffracted orders are responsible for various changes of the polarization state induced by the photoaligned DDLC film. Specific spatial orders in Fourier optical signal processing can be filtered by use of an analyzer placed behind the sample to control the polarization state of the diffracted orders. A simulation was performed, and the results agree closely with the experimental data. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America