Superprism phenomenon based on holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal films

Abstract

The polarization-dependent superprism phenomenon was demonstrated using holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) films. The HPDLC film is designed and fabricated using three coplanar beams. The fabricated HPDLC film contained two-dimensional (2D) ordered nano-sized LC domains (~150nm in diameter) embedded in a polymer matrix; its periodicity was estimated using a scanning electron microscope to be ~350nm. The dispersion of white light from this HPDLC superprism was ~50°, and the deflection of light output from it was consistent with the theoretical value obtained by the plane wave expansion method.