Electrically controlled polarization-independent liquid-crystal Fresnel lens arrays

We describe the properties and construction of a polarization-independent Fresnel lens array using nematic liquid crystals in which the diffraction efficiency of lenses can be electrically controlled. A novel structure is used such that the principal axis of the liquid crystals in two adjacent zones of each Fresnel lens are orthogonal. This makes the device polarization independent. We have characterized these lenses at different applied fields and input polarizations by diffracting an argon-ion beam into focus.