Optical Applications of Liquid Crystals

In recent years there has been increasing activity in the research and design of optical systems based around liquid crystal science. This book, bringing together contributions from leading figures in industry and academia, covers the range of existing applications as well as those in development. This focus on applications sets it apart from the main body of literature in the field, which tend to cover the basic physics and chemistry of LCs. The first few chapters, authored by industrial researchers, concentrate on the existing applications of liquid crystals, from the ubiquitous LCD, through to LC projectors and holography. The remaining chapters are devoted to the more promising technologies in development, including photoaligning, photopatterning and bistable twisted nematic LCs.