Voltage programmable optics: Liquid dielectrophoresis
When liquid travels from one material to another it often changes direction. Lenses and beam steering devices use this principle, but are usually made from glass or plastic. Solids do not easily change shape and so the strength of these optical devices are fixed by their manufacture.
Our experiments use liquids and shape their surfaces using a voltage to create liquid optical elements. These can be beam steering devices using a film of oil with a wrinkled surface or a lense using a droplet of oil.
Publications
G. McHale, C.V. Brown, M.I. Newton, G.G. Wells and N. Sampara,
Developing interface localized liquid dielectrophoresis for optical applications,
Proc. SPIEE 8557 (2012) art. 855703. View reprint pdf
Developing interface localized liquid dielectrophoresis for optical applications,
Proc. SPIEE 8557 (2012) art. 855703. View reprint pdf
C.V. Brown, G.G. Wells, M.I. Newton and G. McHale,
Voltage-programmable liquid optical interface,
Nature Photonics 3 (7) (2009) 403-405. View postprint pdf (also see the Editor's interview)
Voltage-programmable liquid optical interface,
Nature Photonics 3 (7) (2009) 403-405. View postprint pdf (also see the Editor's interview)
