Optical simulation of cholesteric liquid crystal displays using the finite-difference time-domain method.

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is a powerful numerical algorithm used to directly solve Maxwell's equations. We introduce the idea of the FDTD method and the techniques required for optical simulation of cholesteric liquid crystal (Ch-LC) devices. Bragg reflection characteristics of Ch-LC cells are investigated using the FDTD method. Three approaches to broadening the bandwidth of Bragg reflection are demonstrated: (1) using a higher birefringence LC, (2) using a cell with a gradient pitch length, and (3) using a cell with a new multidimensional structure of a Ch-LC.