Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

An electrically tunable Fresnel zone plate lens is demonstrated using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystal droplets. In the voltage-off state, the zone plate behaves like a positive lens. The measured diffraction efficiency is close to the theoretical limit and is controllable by voltage. The major advantages of such a Fresnel lens are simple fabrication, large aperture size, polarization independent, and fast switching speed, although the required operating voltage is relatively high. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.