Laser light diffraction from 2D-layers of polymer-dispersed liquid- crystal droplets

An experimental study of coherent light diffraction by single layers composed of liquid-crystal (LC) micro-droplets dispersed in a transparent solid polymer matrix is reported. The LC droplets with a linear-gradient size distribution reach a mean diameter of several tens of micrometers and are organized in a planar two-dimensional film. The controllable size of the LC droplets in the layer can be used for an efficient control of both transmittance and diffraction of incident laser light.