Polarization Properties of a Liquid-Crystal Phase Grating

Abstract By measuring Stokes parameters of diffracted light versus applied voltages, polarization and diffraction properties of a liquid crystal phase grating (LCPG) are investigated at the first time. With this kind of LC phase gratings, high diffraction efficiencies and contrast ratios can be realized readily. And its polarization properties can be electrically varied as well as diffraction light intensities. A unique property of symmetrical diffraction light intensities but antisymmetrical polarization states in corresponding positive and negative diffraction orders is shown.