Liquid-crystal-based linear polarization rotator

A liquid-crystal (LC)-based polarization rotator which can rotate the polarization axis of an incident linearly polarized light from 0° to 90° is demonstrated. In the LC cell, the top substrate has a uniform rubbing but the bottom substrate has two orthogonal rubbings which are separated by a nonrubbing zone. Between these two rubbed strips, the LC directors twist continuously from 0° to 90°. As a result, the optic axis of the incident linearly polarized light can be rotated continuously depending on the beam position.