Liquid-crystal panel with microdots on an electrode used to modulate optical phase profiles

The optical characteristics of a liquid-crystal (LC) panel with microdots on an electrode are investigated. Although 3 (mu)m is larger than 1 molecule of LC material, microdots with a 3 (mu)m diameter are sufficiently small to produce a smooth index profile. We use an electrode patterned in a new way to modulate the index profile of the LC panel, which allows us to modulate the optical phase of the passing light.