[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 20, No. 5 (2013) 378-384]
© 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics
Liquid Crystal Retarder Spectral Retardance Characterization Based on a Cauchy Dispersion Relation and a Voltage Transfer Function
Asticio VARGAS1,2, Ramiro DONOSO1,2, Manuel RAMÍREZ1,2, José Carrión3, María del Mar Sánchez-López4, and Ignacio MORENO3
1Departamento de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
2Center for Optics and Photonics, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 4016, Concepción, Chile
3Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, Óptica y Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain
4Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain
(Received May 29, 2013; Revised June 19, 2013; Accepted June 25, 2013)
We present a methodology for the spectral characterization of the optical modulation properties of a liquid crystal retarder (LCR). The method includes its complete description with a single Cauchy dispersion relation and a single voltage transfer function. As a result, an accurate description of the LCR retardance is achieved, both versus applied voltage and versus wavelength, with very few parameters. Finally, an imaging polarimetric system has also been developed to characterize the spatial variations in the device.
Key words: liquid crystal retarder, Cauchy dispersion formula, spectral retardance