Polarization imaging components based on patterned photoalignment

The photoalignment technique was used for creating liquid crystal (LC) and LC polymer based polarization imaging components comprising areas of different orientation of optical axis. We discuss applications of such components for visualization of the state of polarization of a light beam and for producing microlens arrays. We used the technique also for producing patterns of cholesteric LCs (CLCs) with different azimuthal anchoring angle at the cell boundaries. The interface between different orientation states prove visible when viewed from the side of patterned orientation and they are invisible from the side of homogeneous planar orientation of the CLC.