Abstract: A method for producing a polymer film of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) having a high concentration of silver nanoparticles (NPs) includes forming the NPs by drying the forming composition by the process of slow reduction of Ag ions by soft organic reductants. Changing a filling degree of Ag NPs in the film is achieved by displacement of Ag NPs and their seeds generated in the liquid PVA film under the action of a DC current at 2-6 mA. An example metal-polymer film with Ag NPs may be used in stealth technologies, for creating thermophotoelectric (TPE) elements, photo detectors, radiation cooling and heating of optoelectronic devices, in spectroscopy of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and for manufacturing LC devices.

Abstract: There is provided an alignment material for a liquid crystal (LC) lens comprising a co-polymer of a photosensitive monomer and at least one alkyl methacrylate monomer. The material allows for the fabrication of a LC lens or LC lens system that is self-aligned and polarization-independent.

Abstract: A differential polarization interferometer is provided. An interferometer performs direct measurement of phase shift of a light wave passed under an arbitrary angle through a sample composed of a transparent substrate holding a thin deposited test film, for metamaterial testing. An example apparatus has a laser source and a first polarizer, and two optically connected arms. A first arm creates orthogonally polarized components of a single output beam for a broadband non-polarizing beam splitter. A second arm has a controllable phase retarder to introduce a phase shift into one polarization component of the reflected single output beam, and a second polarizer to equalize and mix the polarization components of the reflected single output beam. This transforms the reflected single output beam into a beam resulting from interference of polarization components of the reflected single output beam. A photodetector transforms an intensity of the beam into an electric signal for output.