Conclusion
Liquid crystals for ultrafast optics

In ultrafast optics, controlling the temporal distribution of a femtosecond pulse is a major challenge. This is generally achieved in the spectral domain, through the independent and programmable manipulation of different orders of the spectral phase. A wide range of all-optical devices can be used, most often resulting from a compromise between shaping capabilities and spectral acceptance. This results in a shortage of devices for handling pulses lasting a few optical cycles, i.e. with a spectral bandwidth of several octaves.

Liquid crystals, as a birefringent and programmable medium, can represent an elegant technological solution to complement available spectro-temporal shaping tools. Their remarkable properties, such as a wide spectral band of transparency and high, controllable optical anisotropy, make them materials of choice for optics. The intrinsic birefringence...