Single-layered PDLC films for electrically variable laser light reflection application

Electrically controllable two-beam reflection of coherent light double-passed through the microscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) single layer is reported. By PDLC medium, the intensities of two reflected beams can be reciprocally changed by applying a suitable voltage in the range 0–100V. The optical phase shift electrically induced for coherent light propagating in two passes through the single-layered PDLC film, as well as the additional phase shift externally introduced by the substrate of the PDLC cell, are responsible for the electrically controllable reflection in a pair of two beams with complementary voltage-dependent intensity behaviors.