Improvement of turn -on time of a liquid-crystal phase retarder by using an additional control voltage

The process of turn-on time control of a phase retarder based on nematic liquid crystal (NLC) by using an additional control voltage has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model of reorientation process of NLC molecules in the crossed electric fields (a traditional transverse field and an additional longitudinal field) is proposed. Dynamics of reorientation of NLC molecule is depending on the ratio of amplitudes of control voltages is considered. The opportunity of reduction of turn-on time of the NLC-based phase retarder is shown when driving is realized by using two control voltages.