Phase and amplitude modulation of elliptic polarization states by nonabsorbing anisotropic elements: Application to liquid-crystal devices

We study the modulation of programmable birefringent devices when they are illuminated by elliptically polarized light. We apply the theory to liquid-crystal display panels (LCDs). We consider the setups at the input and the output sides of the LCD as polarization-state generators (PSGs) or detectors (PSDs). We demonstrate that once the programmable birefringent device is described by a physical model, the amplitude and phase modulation depend only on the polarization state at the input of the device and on the output state detected behind it. This permits optimization of the modulation response only in terms of the input and the output states and the physical model of the device. The procedure to find the PSG and PSD configurations is detailed by using a geometrical interpretation of the states and the plates on the Poincaré sphere. © 2002 Optical Society of America.