Tunable high-resolution macroscopic self-engineered geometric phase optical elements

Abstract

Artificially engineered geometric phase optical elements may have tunable photonic functionalities owing to sensitivity to external fields, as is the case for liquid crystals based devices. However, a liquid crystal technology combining high-resolution topological ordering with tunable spectral behavior remains elusive. Here, by using a magneto-electric external stimulus, we create robust and efficient self-engineered liquid crystal geometric phase vortex masks with broadly tunable operating wavelength, centimeter-size clear aperture, and high-quality topological ordering.