Fabrication of Twisted Nematic Gratings Using Polarization Hologram Based on Azo-Dye-Doped Liquid Crystals

This study establishes the feasibility of fabricating twist nematic gratings (TN-gratings) using a polarization holographic approach on the basis of the laser-induced adsorption of azo dyes by a polymer-coated glass substrate. This holographic recording is fast, and the formed TN gratings are permanent. Measurements indicate that the first-order diffracted-beam intensity from this TN grating is independent of the polarization of the incident beam. The polarization states of the zeroth- and first-order diffracted beams are perpendicular to each other. The polarization state and intensity distribution of the diffracted beams agree well with their theoretical values derived using the Jones matrix.