Liquid crystal dynamics by ultrasound and its application to high-speed optical measurements

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02056
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 18040:Machine elements and tribology-related
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: Koyama Daisuke 同志社大学, 理工学部, 教授 (50401518)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松川 真美 同志社大学, 理工学部, 教授 (60288602) ; 江本 顕雄 徳島大学, ポストLEDフォトニクス研究所, 特任講師 (80509662)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波 / 液晶 / レンズ / 光計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated a method to control the molecular orientation of liquid crystal and the application to optical measurement techniques. As the results, the relationship between the ultrasound vibration and the liquid crystal molecular orientation was evaluated quantitatively. A method to control the lens aperture and three-dimensional focusing including the radial direction of the lens were realized. Ultrasound gel lenses using a combination of ultrasound and viscoelastic transparent materials, that can control the focal point by changing its shape, were also developed.

Free Research Field

波動応用デバイス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

カメラやスキャナの様な光学デバイスではレンズやミラーの様な光を屈折，集光，反射する光学素子を移動，回転させることによって光を時間的，空間的に制御している．今後スマートフォンなどの電子デバイスの小型・薄型化や車載用モニタリングデバイスへの応用を考えた場合，これらの機械的可動部の存在はデメリットと言える．本研究では光学素子の位置を動かすことなく，その屈折率分布を超音波と液晶を用いて高速に変化することにより，同じ光学的機能をより小型・薄型な構造で実現する手法について検討した．