Terahertz electrically controlled nematic liquid crystal lens

We report some preliminary results on the realization of terahertz (THz) nematic liquid crystal (LC) lens with electric tunable focal length. A LC cell with a single circular-hole electrode is driven by an AC voltage to yield the desired spatial distribution of the refractive index. The two-dimensional function of the phase delay introduced into THz wave depends on the AC voltage and the electrodes contacting the LC layer. This lens is operated at room temperature and its convergent optical characteristic is demonstrated at 118 μm. We realize the lens with a clear aperture of 1 mm. The lens matched with a bolometer array is capable of obtaining real-time THz images of a sample without any mechanical scanning.

► Focal length of the THz LC lens can be tunable by external electric field. ► The THz LC lens matching with bolometer array can get the THz real-time sample image without any mechanical scanning. ► The THz LC lens has convergent optical characteristic at 118 μm.