Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
University of California, Davis — Dept. of Applied Sciences and
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

Present

The First Annual
Edward Teller Science &Technology Education Symposium

Physics - Optics

Saturday, September 23, 2000

The Physics group will explore how opto-electronic technology, the LCD (liquid crystal display), is used to transfer data. We will explore how the LCD is a combination of simple optical components (polarizer, quarterwave plates, birefringent crystals) which can be controlled by simple electronics, allowing the visual transfer of information in such instruments as: Palm Pilot interface screen, digital watches, and Laptop computer screens.

We will build an inexpensive, functional polariscope, examine a simple LCD display commonly employed in a calculator, and constructed a working LCD display comparing its function to a commercially manufactured device.

8:00 to 9:00	Arrival, Building 123 parking lot. Participants will be bussed to B661, Hertz Hall, hospitality and social activities
9:00 to 10:30	Activity 1: - Discussion - .... Room 13 - B-661, Hertz Hall Chris Ebbers - Physics - Optics Group Leader
10:30 to 10:45	Coffee break, hospitality at B-361.
10:45 to 12:15	Activity 2: Hands-on laboratory constructing a polarascope. Room 13 - B-661, Hertz Hall Chris Ebbers - Physics - Optics Group Leader
12:15 to 1:00	Lunch, B-661, Hertz Hall.
1:00 to 2:30	Activity 3: Hands-on laboratory constructing an LCD switch. Room 13 - B-661, Hertz Hall Chris Ebbers - Physics - Optics Group Leader
2:45 to 3:30	Wrap up session and feedback session B-661. Richard Farnsworth - Coordinator
3:30 to 4:30	Bus return B-123 parking lot

Endorsed by the California Science Teachers Association
Co-sponsored by the Optical Society of America