Polarization-Dependent Microlens Array Using Reactive Mesogen Aligned by Top-Down Nanogrooves for Switchable Three-Dimensional Applications

We propose a reactive mesogen (RM) lens array to obtain good focusing behavior along with a shortfocal plane, where the focusing behavior is switchable according to the polarization state of incident light. Polarization-dependent focusing behavior is obtained using a planoconvex RM microlens array on aplanoconcave isotropic lens template. Even though the sagitta of our RM lens is high, to obtain the shortfocal length, the RM layer can be aligned well by introducing a top-down alignment effect, using ananogrooved template. The optical noise due to the moiré effect generated by the nanogrooves on thesurface of the planoconvex RM layer can be removed simply by overcoating a thin RM layer, which isself-aligned by the geometric surface effect, without an additional alignment process. We demonstrate ahexagonal-packed RM lens array that has a very high fill factor and symmetric phase profile, for an ideallens KCI Citation Count: 9