Self-induced liquid crystal q-plate by photoelectric interface activation

Nina Kravets (1) , Nina Podoliak (2) , Malgosia Kaczmarek (2) , Etienne Brasselet (1)

1 LOMA - Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine
2 School of Physics and Astronomy [Southampton]

Here, we report on the experimental demonstration that highly efficient self-induced spin-orbit optical vortex generation can be achieved by using standard liquid crystal materials and surface treatment agents. This is done by revisiting the recent attempt by Zolot’ko and coworkers to produce self-induced liquid crystal vortex plates using the dc electric field [I. A. Budagovsky, S. A. Shvetsov, and A. S. Zolot’ko, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 637, 47 (2016)] that remains, so far, limited to moderate efficiencies. The phenomenon is the result of the self-back-action of light arising from the spontaneous creation of a liquid crystal topological defect. These results demonstrate photo-electric interface activation as a candidate towards the development of a self-adapted spinorbit photonic toolbox, thus enabling agile management of the orbital angular momentum of light.

Domaines: Physique [physics]; Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]; Optique [physics.optics]

Nina Kravets, Nina Podoliak, Malgosia Kaczmarek, Etienne Brasselet. Self-induced liquid crystal q-plate by photoelectric interface activation. Applied Physics Letters, 2019, 114 (6), pp.061101. ⟨10.1063/1.5082598⟩. ⟨hal-02104094⟩