Basic Liquid Crystal Controller

Product Description

• Ideal for Driving Nematic Liquid Crystal Retarders
• Compatible with λ/2 Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder #63-039
• Manual or Computer Interface Control
• Easy Mounting with 8-32 Tapped Hole

The Basic Liquid Crystal Controller is compatible with the λ/2 Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder (#63-039) and can electrically control the retardance of a single retarder by manually changing the applied voltage. It allows the convenient, stand-alone benchtop operation of the Liquid Crystal Variable Retarders. LED voltage and frequency readouts are shown on a digital display. Additionally frequency and voltage settings of the Basic Liquid Crystal Controller can be easily stored and the system memory retains voltage and frequency settings even at power down.

Product Family Description

• Precise Electrically Controlled Retardance up to λ/2
• Manual or Computer Interface Control
• Easy Mounting with 8-32 Tapped Hole

Liquid Crystal Variable Waveplates (Retarders) are constructed using precision polished, optically flat fused silica windows spaced a few microns apart. The cavity is filled with nematic liquid crystal material and sealed. This assembly ensures excellent transmitted wavefront quality and low beam deviation, required for many demanding applications. The compensated retarders can operate from 0 – λ/2 in the visible (VIS) spectrum.

The nematic liquid crystal material allows to electrically control polarization with high precision. The long axis of the liquid crystal molecules defines the extraordinary, or slow, index. With no voltage present, the molecules lie parallel to the windows and maximum retardance is obtained. When voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the molecules tip towards the direction of the applied electric field. As voltage increases, the effective birefringence decreases, causing a reduction in retardance. The basic liquid crystal controller (#63-045) allows to control a single retarder manually.