Tunable high-resolution macroscopic self-engineered geometric phase optical elements

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel liquid crystal optical element that uses a magneto-electric stimulus to achieve high-resolution, tunable, and large-scale geometric phase vortex masks with high topological order.

Contribution

It introduces a new method for creating self-engineered liquid crystal geometric phase elements with broad tunability and high-quality topological features.

Findings

Achieved broadly tunable operating wavelength.

Demonstrated centimeter-scale clear aperture.

Maintained high topological order and quality.

Abstract

Artificially engineered geometric phase optical elements may have tunable photonic functionalities owing to sensitivity to external fields, as is the case for liquid crystals based devices. However, a liquid crystal technology combining high-resolution topological ordering with tunable spectral behavior remains elusive. Here, by using a magneto-electric external stimulus, we create robust and efficient self-engineered liquid crystal geometric phase vortex masks with broadly tunable operating wavelength, centimeter-size clear aperture, and high-quality topological ordering.