In this Letter we demonstrate a polarization controller capable of changing any state of polarization of light from one arbitrary state to another. The controller consists of a stack of three homogeneous nematic liquid-crystal cells. The polarization state is controlled by proper adjustment of the voltages applied across each of the cells. The mathematical algorithm and principles of this polarization controller are developed in the framework of the Stokes parameters, allowing easy visualization by use of a Poincaré sphere representation. The transformation functions are given for conversion of an arbitrary input state to any output state. Experiments are carried out to demonstrate arbitrary polarization transformation.

© 1999 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. 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

• Fabry Perot etalon with polymer cholesteric liquid-crystal mirrors (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)
• Wavelength, temperature, and voltage dependent calibration of a nematic liquid crystal multispectral polarization generating device (AO)
• Azimuthally and radially polarized light with a nematic SLM (OE)

Related Conference Papers

• Polarization multiplexing of diffractive optical elements with liquid crystal displays
• Formation of Vectorial Vortices by Use of Discretely Oriented Space-Variant Subwavelength Gratings
• Polarization-Shaping Using Space-Variant Subwavelength Gratings
• Polarization-Based Segmentation for Enhancement of Target Detection in Adaptive Polarization-Difference Imaging
• Polarization Effects in Photonic Liquid Crystal Fibers