Optical notch filter using thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

Poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate), partially transesterified with 1-dodecanol, and polysiloxane were employed to fabricate a right- and left-handed optical element, respectively. The wavelength of selective reflection was tuned via physical blending or annealing at a proper temperature. An optical notch filter comprising elements with each handedness showed an optical density of 2.0 within the rejection band and 73 to 83% transmission outside the band, suggesting liquid crystalline polymers as promising materials for the construction of environmentally robust optical notch filters.