A continuous plane of polarization rotator and detector based on the liquid crystal theta-cell

Modulation of the polarization state of optical beams is crucial in advanced optical applications such as polarization microscopy, polarization rotation, and medical imaging. We demonstrate a continuous polarization rotator by utilizing the liquid crystals (LC) in theta-cell configuration comprising of circular and parallel alignment of LC on two aligning glass substrates. A rotation of plane of polarization up to 160 degree is observed using Stokes polarimetry and substantiated by the mathematical analysis using Mueller matrix formalism. Further, the device is demonstrated as a plane of polarization detector with high precision detection angle. The plane of polarization is analyzed through single shot imaging of the intensity distribution of transmitted light through the LC theta-cell.