摘要
Lasers possess many attractive features(e.g.,high brightness,narrow linewidth,well-defined polarization)that make them the ideal illumination source for many different scientific and technological endeavors relating to imaging and the display of high-resolution information.However,their high-level of coherence can result in the formation of noise,referred to as speckle,that can corrupt and degrade images.Here,we demonstrate a new electro-optic technology for combatting laser speckle using a chiral nematic liquid crystal(LC)dispersed with zwitterionic dopants.Results are presented that demonstrate when driven at the optimum electric field conditions,the speckle noise can be reduced by>90%resulting in speckle contrast(C)values of C=0.07,which is approaching that required to be imperceptible to the human eye.This LC technology is then showcased in an array of different display and imaging applications,including a demonstration of speckle reduction in modern vectorial laser-based imaging.
基金
This research was funded in whole,or in part,by the UKRI[EP/T517811/1,EP/W022567/1]
For the purpose of Open Access,the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.N.P.S.gratefully acknowledges the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC)UK for financial support through a graduate student scholarship(EP/T517811/1)
C.H.gratefully acknowledges St.John’s College Oxford for financial support through a Junior Research Fellowship.S.M.M,S.J.E.and M.J.B.,gratefully acknowledge financial support from the EPSRC(UK)through project EP/W022567/1.Y.J.gratefully acknowledges Zimo Zhao’s assistance and technical support
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