Optical properties of an anamorphic liquid crystal microlens using an elliptically-patterned electrode structure

The anamorphic liquid crystal (LC) microlenses are prepared using elliptically-patterned electrode structures and nematic LC materials, and their optical properties are demonstrated. The interference hinge patterns of the LC microlens can be varied by applying voltages. Focal length and astigmatic focal distance properties are estimated as a function of applied voltage and it is confirmed that an astigmatism of the anamorphic LC microlens can easily be controlled by an ellipticity of a patterned electrode and an applying voltage. Coupling of a laser diode beam to a multimode optical fiber is also demonstrated using the anamorphic LC microlens.