Device physics of the soft-mode electro-optic effect

The soft-mode ferroelectric liquid-crystal (SMFLC) effects utilize the electroclinic response of chiral orthogonal smectic phases (A*,B*,E*) in bookshelf geometry. The SMFLC cell may be considered a retardation plate with a field controllable optic axis, with a submicrosecond response time, and a wide continuous dynamic range. A great variety of electro-optic components and devices can be constructed based on the SMFLC effect, many of them adding novel possibilities and challenges for optical design. We discuss in the present paper different combinations of SMFLC cells with retarders and polarizers, giving optical components capable of light and color modulation. Particularly, multiple electroclinic cells in a special constellation have the potentiality to give nearly achromatic full-modulation light valves, as well as electrically controlled high-speed color filters, which can be used for simple and compact TV cameras. Reflective single-cell electroclinic devices are suitable for integration with semiconductors to give high-speed spatial light modulators and general optical processing components with high contrast and full grey-scale capability.