A continuous plane of polarization rotator and detector based on the liquid crystal theta-cell

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel liquid crystal theta-cell device capable of continuously rotating the polarization plane up to 160 degrees and functioning as a high-precision polarization detector, advancing optical polarization control technologies.

Contribution

The study introduces a continuous polarization rotator and detector based on liquid crystal theta-cell configuration, combining polarization rotation and detection in a single device.

Findings

Achieved up to 160-degree polarization rotation.

Demonstrated high-precision polarization detection.

Validated results with Stokes polarimetry and Mueller matrix analysis.

Abstract

Modulation of the polarization state of optical beams is crucial in advanced optical applications such as polarization microscopy, polarization rotation, and medical imaging. We demonstrate a continuous polarization rotator by utilizing the liquid crystals (LC) in theta-cell configuration comprising of circular and parallel alignment of LC on two aligning glass substrates. A rotation of plane of polarization up to 160 degree is observed using Stokes polarimetry and substantiated by the mathematical analysis using Mueller matrix formalism. Further, the device is demonstrated as a plane of polarization detector with high precision detection angle. The plane of polarization is analyzed through single shot imaging of the intensity distribution of transmitted light through the LC theta-cell.