The light modulating ability of gradient polymer-disposed liquid crystal (PDLC) single layer of large droplets formed by nematic E7 in UV-cured polymer NOA65 is studied. Operating at relatively low voltages, such PDLC film with a of thickness $10–25\mathrm{\mu m}$ and droplet size up to $50\mathrm{\mu m}$ exhibits a good contrast ratio and is capable of producing a large phase shift for the propagating coherent light. For a linearly polarized He–Ne laser ( $\lambda =633\mathrm{nm}$ ), an electrically commanded phase shift as large as $\pi /2$ can be obtained by the large-droplet region of the film. The electrically produced phase shift and its spatial profile controlled by the thickness of the gradient PDLC single layers of large nematic droplets can be useful for tunable spatial light modulators and other devices for active control of laser light.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

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