Rapid calibration of liquid crystal variable retarder (LCVR) devices is critical for successful clinical implementation of a LC-based Mueller matrix imaging system being developed for noninvasisve skin cancer detection. For multispectral implementation of such a system, the effect of wavelength (λ), temperature (T), and voltage (V) on the retardance (δ) required to generate each desired polarization state needs to be clearly understood. Calibration involves quantifying this interdependence such that for a given set of system input variables \left(\lambda ,T\right) , the appropriate voltage is applied across a LC cell to generate a particular retardance. This paper presents findings that elucidate the dependence of voltage, for a set retardance, on the aforementioned variables for a nematic LC cell: \sim 253\text{\hspace{0.17em} mV}/\text{100 \hspace{0.17em} nm} λ-dependence and \sim 10\text{mV}/°\text{C} T-dependence. Additionally, an empirically derived model is presented that enables initial voltage calibration of retardance for any desired input wavelength within the calibration range of 460–905\text{\hspace{0.17em} nm} .

© 2007 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Polarization controller using nematic liquid crystals (OL)
• Two-Dimensional Polarization Encoding with a Phase-Only Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator (AO)
• Two-dimensional polarization rotator using a twisted-nematic liquid-crystal display (AO)
• Azimuthally and radially polarized light with a nematic SLM (OE)
• Time-resolved switching analysis of a ferroelectric liquid crystal by snapshot Mueller matrix polarimetry (OL)

Related Conference Papers

• Field measurements of state of polarization and PMD from a tier-1 carrier
• Fresnel rhomb and other devices for handling and teaching polarization: inexpensive design
• Polarization multiplexing of diffractive optical elements with liquid crystal displays
• Capabilities and Limitations of Using Measured Mueller Matrices to Predict Complex Optical System Performance
• Condition Number as a Metric for the Effectiveness of Polarimetric Algorithms