A method of aligning a chiral nematic liquid crystal, the method comprising depositing a first chiral nematic liquid crystal onto a first substrate, positioning a second substrate on top of the liquid crystal to form an initial layer structure and then applying rolling pressure to at least one of the substrates of the initial layer structure to create a final layer structure in which the first chiral nematic liquid crystal is aligned with a helical axis substantially perpendicular to a local plane of the first substrate. Aspects of the invention provide optical filter materials for laser protection applications, LED emission filtering and lighting, augmented reality display coatings.

A method of aligning a chiral nematic liquid crystal, the method comprising depositing a first chiral nematic liquid crystal onto a first substrate, positioning a second substrate on top of the liquid crystal to form an initial layer structure and then applying rolling pressure to at least one of the substrates of the initial layer structure to create a final layer structure in which the first chiral nematic liquid crystal is aligned with a helical axis substantially perpendicular to a local plane of the first substrate. Aspects of the invention provide optical filter materials for laser protection applications, LED emission filtering and lighting, augmented reality display coatings.

A graphene and liquid crystal device comprising a substrate, a layer of graphene on the substrate, and a layer of liquid crystal on the layer of graphene. A graphene and liquid crystal device wherein the layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for a liquid crystal device.

A graphene and liquid crystal device comprising a substrate, a layer of graphene on the substrate, and a layer of liquid crystal on the layer of graphene. A graphene and liquid crystal device wherein the layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for a liquid crystal device.

An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ≤about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ≥about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ≤about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ≤about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ≤about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ≥about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ≤about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ≤about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ≤about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ≥about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ≤about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ≤about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ≤about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ≥about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ≤about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ≤about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

Techniques for using ferroelectric liquid crystals Dammann grating (FLCDG) for light detection and ranging devices are disclosed. In LiDAR devices, accuracy, response time, and cost performance can be limited by some factors, such as laser pulse width, time resolution of a time-to-digital conversion chip, detector bandwidth, shot noise, and time error generated by electronic circuits. A FLCDG-based architecture can improve a LiDAR device, and provide for one-shot capturing due to the high switching speed at very low driving voltage provided by ferroelectric liquid crystals and the equal diffracting ability of Dammann grating.

A hyperspectral imaging system has a processor to receive hyperspectral imaging parameters and produce a series of images to be acquired at a series of retardances at a series of retardance times, a hyperspectral imaging component having an input polarizer to polarize an incoming beam of light, a liquid crystal variable retarder to receive the polarized beam of light and to produce wavelength-dependent polarized light, an output polarizer to receive the wavelength-dependent polarized light and to convert polarization state information into a form detectable as light intensity, a voltage source connected to the liquid crystal variable retarder, and a retardance controller. The retardance controller receives the series of retardances at a series of retardance times and produces a series of voltages at a series of voltage times to apply to the liquid crystal variable retarder. A focal plane array, synchronized with the retardance controller, receives the light in a form detectable as light intensity and converts the light to a series of images.