Directing light with liquid crystal metasurfaces

Abstract

Abstract Liquid crystal metasurfaces self-assemble on polymer substrates regularly patterned by focused ion beam. Periodic deformations of nematic liquid crystal produce distinct colouring and strong diffraction. Applying AC voltage of 4 V across the liquid crystal layer straightens the nematic, suppresses diffraction and increases direct transmission within sub-millisecond switching times. Multi-parametric optimization of the metasurface design substantially enhances the efficiency of diffraction into a single particular channel.