Abstract

Ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) have been used in discrete and continuous polarization interference filters.^1-3 Birefringent filters have been mechanically tuned by rotating an achromatic half-wave plate, that reflects the desired center wavelength to coincide with the analyzing polarizer axis.⁴ Smectic A^*FLCs are essentially fixed retarders, which are analog rotatable, and fast switching (100 kHz–1 MHz), with the application of an electric field. However, a single element cannot yet achieve the 45° of analog tilt required to tune through a free-spectral range. In addition, the elements are not achromatic. In this paper, we present a method for combining two or more FLC switching elements and compensate for FLC chromaticity effects.

© 1991 Optical Society of America