Orientational order in three nO.m liquid crystalline compounds

Refractive index and density measurements have been carried out on three nO.m liquid crystalline compounds, namely, 4O.2, 4O.3 and 1O.10 belonging to the N-(p-n-alkoxybenzylidene)-p-n-alkylaniline series. From the data, the orientational order parameter has been estimated using Vuks and Neugebauer local field models. Furthermore, the orientational order parameter has been calculated directly from refractive index data employing the Vuks scaling factor method, Neugebauer f(B) parameter, effective geometry parameter and a method proposed by Kuczyński et al. It is observed that order parameter values estimated from different methods agree well near the nematic–isotropic transition and diverge as the nematic phase attains equilibrium. The temperature gradient of refractive indices and the nematic crossover temperatures have also been estimated for these compounds. The results obtained are compared and discussed.     

Optical birefringence and order parameter of three nematogens

Results of the measurement of refractive indices and densities of three nematic liquid crystals at different temperatures are reported. The molecular polarizabilities have been calculated from refractive indices using both the Vuks’ and the Neugebauer’s relations. The orientational order parameters are determined from the polarizability values. The variation of order parameter with temperature for these compounds shows a reasonably good agreement with Maier and Saupe theory except near the clearing points where the experimental values are less than those obtained from the theory. The possible reasons for this have been discussed.     

Orientational order parameter of two cyano nematogens by optical spectroscopy

Refractive index and density measurements of two cyano nematogens, namely p-hexyloxybenzylidene p-aminobenzonitrile and p-octyloxybenzylidene p-aminobenzonitrile have been carried out. From these data, orientational order parameter S has been estimated using different methods. Principal polarizabilities have been calculated using the well-known Vuks isotropic and Neugebauer anisotropic models. Polarizability anisotropy has been estimated using Lippincott δ-function, molecular vibration, Haller's extrapolation and Vuks scaling methods. Using these values, the orientational order parameter S has been estimated at different temperatures in their nematic phases. The values obtained have been compared and discussed. Further, using the experimental refractive index data, the nematic crossover temperatures have also been estimated for these compounds.     

Nematic order and nuclear magnetic relaxation in PCH-3 liquid crystal

Proton NMR was employed to study the nematic phases upon heating and upon cooling in PCH-3 (trans-4 (4-propylcyclohexy) benzonitrile). Our systematic measurements of the nematic order parameter and spin relaxations reveal the microscopic nature of the thermal hysteresis in this relatively low molecular weight nematic liquid crystalline material.     

Low viscosity, high birefringence liquid crystalline compounds and mixtures

Two types of fast switching mixtures with high positive dielectric anisotropy were described. The first type, with a birefringence below 0.3, was designed for devices operating at room or lower temperatures and the second one, with a birefringence higher than 0.3 for devices operating at elevated temperatures.     

Dispersion of fluorescent dye in the nematic liquid crystal: Enhanced photoluminescence and high birefringence

In the present investigation optical, electro-optical and dielectric properties have been measured for nematic liquid crystal (NLC) material 1550C which consists of 4’-(trans, trans-4-alkylbicyclohexyl) carbonates and 4’-(4-(trans,trans-4-alkyl)-4-cyanobicyclohexane, dispersed with fluorescent dye (Benzo 2,1,3 Thiadiazole) in two different concentrations. Photoluminescence has been enhanced for a dye dispersed system which is the key finding of this investigation. UV absorbance study has also been performed and found to be increased for composite system. Enhanced birefringence after dispersion of dye into pure NLC is also a prominent result of this investigation. Relative permittivity, threshold voltage and dielectric anisotropy have also been measured and found to be increased. The outcome of the present work may be very useful in the construction of liquid crystal displays (LCDs).     

Cascading of liquid crystal elastomer photomechanical optical devices

Photomechanical actuation is demonstrated in two coupled liquid crystal elastomer photomechanical optical devices (PODs) acting in series. The response function of an individual POD is characterized and used to predict the temporal response of the coupled system. The predicted coupled-system response agrees with the experiment for several waveforms and frequencies, suggesting that large-scale integration of photomechanical devices is possible.     

Molecular organization and aggregation in Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of azo dye/liquid crystal mixtures

A study of azo dye/liquid crystal mixtures in monolayers formed at air-water (Langmuir films) and air-solid substrate (Langmuir-Blodgett films) interfaces was performed. Three azo dyes with various molecular structure and two liquid crystal materials: 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and trans-4-octyl(4′-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane (8PCH) were used. The morphology of Langmuir films was monitored by means of a Brewster angle microscope (BAM). Moreover, a surface pressure and electronic absorption spectra of the monolayer spread on the water surface of dye/liquid crystal mixtures as a function of a mean molecular area were simultaneously recorded. In addition, the absorption for Langmuir-Blodgett films deposited on quartz plates was measured. Information about intermolecular interactions in the mixtures of the nonamphiphilic dye and the liquid crystal with polar terminal group was obtained. Conclusions about the formation of self-aggregates between dye molecules have been drawn. The influence of the dye molecular structure and its concentration on aggregates’ geometry was found.     

Nearly-analogue blazed phase grating using high birefringence liquid crystal

Diffraction of liquid crystal gratings has been thoroughly studied for many applications such as diffraction optics, optical processing, and spectral analysis. In pure optical processing one varies the direction of propagation of light beam without any mechanical adjustment. In this work we propose a beam steering device using highly birefringent liquid crystal material. Using a highly birefringent material one can reduce the LC layer thickness needed to achieve 2π of phase modulation and thus reduce the fringing effect caused by deformation of the electric field at the edge of the pixel. Here, we present 1.5-μm thick, high-resolution diffraction grating with non-detectable fringing.     

基于双折射晶体的光交叉波分复用器

光交叉波分复用器能够把一组DWDM光信号分解成两组奇偶信道输出 ,或反之。双折射晶体的设计关健部分由两个光轴成 45°的波片A和B组成。入射光信号经过偏振分束器和偏振元件处理后 ,在A波片中形成o光、e光并产生位相差。在B波片中再次分解并发生干涉形成奇偶信道光输出。A波片厚度决定位相差从而决定输出信道间隔。用两片光轴垂直或相同但不同材料的波片按一定的厚度组合代替波片A可消除输出频率间隔的温度漂移。基于双折射晶体的设计是实现商用化光交叉波分复用器的有效途径。     

Optical properties of two liquid crystal compounds: a comparative study

The optical properties of two liquid crystalline mesogens S4 (code name) and S5 (code name) have been studied as a function of temperature. Our interest is to compare the macroscopic properties of these two thermotropic mesogens and to study the effect of replacing the OC₆H₁₃ group in S4 by NCS group to produce S5.With this aim in view the thermal variations of birefringence have been determined for both the compounds. The variations of polarizabilities with temperature have also been evaluated from density variations and birefringence studies and the thermal dependence of the order parameters of the two compounds have thereby been determined and compared. The theoretical values of the order parameters have also been calculated using the McMillan and Maier–Saupe potentials and compared with the obtained experimental values.     

Pixel size and pitch measurements of liquid crystal spatial light modulator by optical diffraction

We present a simple technique for the determination of pixel size and pitch of liquid crystal (LC) based spatial light modulator (SLM). The proposed method is based on optical diffraction from pixelated LC panel that has been modeled as a two-dimensional array of rectangular apertures. A novel yet simple, two-plane measurement technique is implemented to circumvent the difficulty in absolute distance measurement. Experimental results are presented for electrically addressed twisted nematic LC-SLM removed from the display projector.     

去除光学器件弹光双折射的方法

在电光、磁光调制器和传感器等光学器件的制作和使用过程中,经常会产生影响器件性能的弹光双折射.根据折射率椭球分析法,通过系统分析各晶系晶体的弹光效应,提出了若干去除光学器件中静态弹光双折射的方法.主要结论包括:对于正交晶系的双轴晶体,当光波沿着晶体任意一个主轴方向传播时,如果作用于晶体另外两个主轴方向的应力能够满足某一与晶体自身参数有关的倍数关系且不存在剪切应力,则可以去除这两个应力引起的弹光双折射;对利用所有单轴晶体,ˉ43m,432,m3m点群的立方晶体和匀质光学玻璃制作的光学器件,如果能够保持晶体沿着x1,x2轴方向的正应力相等且不存在剪切应力,或只对晶体施加x3方向的正应力,也可以避免沿着晶体主光轴x3方向传播光波的弹光双折射.上述去除弹光双折射的方法对光学器件的设计、制作和使用具有重要参考价值.     

Complementary interference method for determining optical parameters of liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

Wedge cells of small apex angle, filled with liquid crystals, were used to determining optical characteristics as functions of temperature for three liquid crystalline mixtures recently produced and a reference nematic. The interference fringes appearing in polarised monochromatic light (of sodium yellow line) normally incident on the cell were exploited to measure the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices in the reflection mode and birefringence in the transmission mode. The measurements were repeated using Abbe's refractometer for 6CHBT as the reference to verifying the precision. Additionally the order parameter was computed from birefringence as a function of temperature. The results confirm the usefulness of the method and provide the properties of two nematic liquid crystals of small and large birefringence and one smectic liquid crystal of medium birefringence, recently produced. The experimental systems served also to investigating phase transition between the liquid crystals and the isotropic liquid at near-clearing temperature.     

光纤几何路径引起的圆双折射

本文对单模光纤中线偏振面的旋转与光纤几何路径的关系进行了研究.首次报道了在光纤入射端和出射端不平行的情况下的数值计算和实验测量结果.     

光学玻璃应力双折射叠加

为解决在光学玻璃应力双折射测量中遇到的双折射叠加问题,利用光学等效原理,使用一个线性双折射模型和一个旋转器来代替叠加模型。对叠加的情况做了分析和计算,得到了叠加后的特征延迟、主应力方向和旋转角随两个应力模型主应力方向夹角变化的曲线。理论分析表明,应力双折射叠加不是应力双折射的简单相加,而是与叠加模型各自的应力双折射值和主应力方向的夹角有关。实验结果与理论计算相吻合。应力双折射叠加对实际光学玻璃测试造成不良影响,使测量精度降低,特别是有透光支撑机构或折射液容器的情况下,应力双折射叠加的影响不可忽略。     

光学玻璃应力双折射叠加

为解决在光学玻璃应力双折射测量中遇到的双折射叠加问题,利用光学等效原理,使用一个线性双折射模型和一个旋转器来代替叠加模型。对叠加的情况做了分析和计算,得到了叠加后的特征延迟、主应力方向和旋转角随两个应力模型主应力方向夹角变化的曲线。理论分析表明,应力双折射叠加不是应力双折射的简单相加,而是与叠加模型各自的应力双折射值和主应力方向的夹角有关。实验结果与理论计算相吻合。应力双折射叠加对实际光学玻璃测试造成不良影响,使测量精度降低,特别是有透光支撑机构或折射液容器的情况下,应力双折射叠加的影响不可忽略。     

Orientational order and molecular parameters of two nematogenic mixtures from X-ray studies: confirmation of electro-optical results

This study entails the report of X-ray studies conducted on two nematogenic mixtures (code names ZLI 1221 and ZLI 1291) containing identical moieties: phenyl cyclohexane, biphenyl cyclohexane and cyclohexyl benzoate, but exhibiting different mesogenic ranges and properties. X-ray studies have been undertaken with a view to investigate the difference in the mesogenic behaviour of the said mixtures at the molecular level. The average apparent molecular length ‘l?’ and intermolecular distance ‘D’ of the two mixtures and their variations with temperature have been determined from X-ray data. The orientational order parameters ?P ₂? and ?P ₄? and their thermal variations have also been obtained. Comparison has been made with the ?P ₂? values obtained from X-ray study with those obtained from optical study. The average apparent molecular lengths of the two mixtures corroborate the findings regarding the relative molecular weights of the two samples obtained from optical and dielectric data.     

Spectral and orientational properties of new group of naphthalene derivatives of bicarboxylic acid in liquid crystal 7CB

The spectral and orientational properties of some dichroic fluorescent dyes (naphthalene derivatives of bicarboxylic acid) in some isotropic solvents and in an anisotropic matrix have been studied. The order parameter of the dyes in the nematogenic liquid crystal 7CB has been determined from measurements of polarized electronic absorption and fluorescence. The influence of the dye addition on the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature of 7CB has been investigated. It was found that some of the dyes studied could be successfully utilized in guest-host liquid crystal display devices.     

Locally-induced permanent birefringence by polymer-stabilization of liquid crystal in cells and photonic crystal fibers

The aim of this work was to induce permanent birefringence both in typical liquid crystal cells and photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) by photo-polymerization. For this purpose three different liquid crystalline materials, namely E7, 5CB, and 6CHBT were combined with a mixture of RM257 monomer and a UV sensitive initiator with the percentage weight less than 10%. Due to the photo-polymerization process it was possible to achieve polymer-stabilized liquid crystal orientation inside LC cells and micro-sized cylindrical glass tubes. In particular, periodic change in spatial molecular orientation was achieved by selective photo-polymerization. Successful results obtained in these simple geometries allowed for the experimental procedure to be repeated in PCFs leading to locally-induced permanent birefringence in PCFs.