Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array

As a programmable optical device, a liquid crystal optical phased array (LCOPA) has many unique applications. Multi-beam fan-out is one of the novel application cases. However, currently commercially available liquid crystal optical phased array devices typically use reflective structures and are op...

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Main Authors: Xue Xu, Lin Xu, Xitong Liang, Jun Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/3/181
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author Xue Xu
Lin Xu
Xitong Liang
Jun Dai
author_facet Xue Xu
Lin Xu
Xitong Liang
Jun Dai
author_sort Xue Xu
collection DOAJ
description As a programmable optical device, a liquid crystal optical phased array (LCOPA) has many unique applications. Multi-beam fan-out is one of the novel application cases. However, currently commercially available liquid crystal optical phased array devices typically use reflective structures and are operated on desktop software. This can be inconvenient for the construction of the optical path and the manipulation of the device. On the other hand, multi-beam fan-out capability alone may not be sufficient in some application scenarios. The additional function of focusing might bring some new advantages. Thus, we developed a transmissive liquid crystal optical phased array device based on a fully embedded human–computer interaction control method. It does not require the installation of computer desktop software and only needs a touch screen for easy human–computer interaction. This not only brings convenience to control, but also reduces the cost of devices. Meanwhile, based on the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm (GS algorithm) and the method of lens phase superposition, we achieved a composite function of multiple-beam fan-out with focusing function by simulation and experiment. This composite function may have unique application value for some special application scenarios.
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spelling doaj-art-bfacb804de0648f5902a763427243f5e2025-08-20T01:48:45ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-02-0112318110.3390/photonics12030181Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased ArrayXue Xu0Lin Xu1Xitong Liang2Jun Dai3School of Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaSchool of Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaSchool of Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaSchool of Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaAs a programmable optical device, a liquid crystal optical phased array (LCOPA) has many unique applications. Multi-beam fan-out is one of the novel application cases. However, currently commercially available liquid crystal optical phased array devices typically use reflective structures and are operated on desktop software. This can be inconvenient for the construction of the optical path and the manipulation of the device. On the other hand, multi-beam fan-out capability alone may not be sufficient in some application scenarios. The additional function of focusing might bring some new advantages. Thus, we developed a transmissive liquid crystal optical phased array device based on a fully embedded human–computer interaction control method. It does not require the installation of computer desktop software and only needs a touch screen for easy human–computer interaction. This not only brings convenience to control, but also reduces the cost of devices. Meanwhile, based on the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm (GS algorithm) and the method of lens phase superposition, we achieved a composite function of multiple-beam fan-out with focusing function by simulation and experiment. This composite function may have unique application value for some special application scenarios.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/3/181liquid crystal optical phase array devicemulti-beam controlhuman–computer interactionGS algorithmfocusing
spellingShingle Xue Xu
Lin Xu
Xitong Liang
Jun Dai
Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
Photonics
liquid crystal optical phase array device
multi-beam control
human–computer interaction
GS algorithm
focusing
title Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
title_full Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
title_fullStr Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
title_full_unstemmed Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
title_short Multi-Beam Focusing and Deflecting Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Array
title_sort multi beam focusing and deflecting characteristics of liquid crystal optical phased array
topic liquid crystal optical phase array device
multi-beam control
human–computer interaction
GS algorithm
focusing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/3/181
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AT linxu multibeamfocusinganddeflectingcharacteristicsofliquidcrystalopticalphasedarray
AT xitongliang multibeamfocusinganddeflectingcharacteristicsofliquidcrystalopticalphasedarray
AT jundai multibeamfocusinganddeflectingcharacteristicsofliquidcrystalopticalphasedarray