Third order optical non-linearities of nematic liquid crystals

Liquid crystals can exhibit large third order optical non-linearities. Using the Z-scan technique, we have measured the intensity dependence of the non-linear absorption and non-linear refractive indices on time-scales ranging from milliseconds to picoseconds for nematic liquid crystals. This method allows the determination of the non-linear absorption coefficients as well as the signs and magnitudes of the non-linear refractive indices for different polarizations. A two pulse technique further enables estimation of the response time of the dominant mechanism. Using CW argon and Q-switched and mode-locked pumped dye lasers, we have carried out Z-scan measurements on aligned liquid crystal samples as a function of temperature, as well as wavelength. In the geometries studied, director reorientation is not expected to take place. On the nanosecond time-scale, all materials studied were self-focusing for polarization perpendicular to the director, and self-defocusing for parallel polarization. On the picosecond timescale, the samples were self-focusing for all polarizations, but strong non-linear birefringence was typically observed. An attempt is made to relate the bulk response to the molecular structures.     

Analysis of a fluorescence depletion process of Rhodamine 6G in a PMMA matrix induced by nano- and picosecond lasers

The two-color fluorescence depletion process of Rhodamine 6G in PMMA matrixes was investigated using nano- and picosecond lasers. Erase-lasers of 1064 and 599 nm depleted the fluorescence from the S₁ state. Fluorescence depletion with 1064 nm was analyzed by the up-conversion from state S₁ to S₂, while that with 599 nm was simulated based on both the up-conversion and the stimulated emission. A three-state model describes this process due to a nanosecond laser well, while it could not reproduce that by picosecond lasers. Significant contributions of vibrational relaxation in S₁ and re-absorption from S₀ are suggested in the picosecond region.     

Third order optical non–linearities of nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

Liquid crystals can exhibit large third order optical non-linearities. Using the Z-scan technique, we have measured the intensity dependence of the non-linear absorption and non-linear refractive indices on time-scales ranging from milliseconds to picoseconds for nematic liquid crystals. This method allows the determination of the non-linear absorption coefficients as well as the signs and magnitudes of the non-linear refractive indices for different polarizations. A two pulse technique further enables estimation of the response time of the dominant mechanism. Using CW argon and Q-switched and mode-locked pumped dye lasers, we have carried out Z-scan measurements on aligned liquid crystal samples as a function of temperature, as well as wavelength. In the geometries studied, director reorientation is not expected to take place. On the nanosecond time-scale, all materials studied were self-focusing for polarization perpendicular to the director, and self-defocusing for parallel polarization. On the picosecond timescale, the samples were self-focusing for all polarizations, but strong non-linear birefringence was typically observed. An attempt is made to relate the bulk response to the molecular structures.     

Phase effect on formation of intermediates in the pulse radiolysis of 4-cyano-4'- octylbiphenyl liquid crystals

It is shown that the reaction intermediates were formed by pulse radiolysis of 4-cyano-4'- octylbiphenyl liquid crystals. The remarkable phase effect was observed in the pulse radiolysis of the liquid crystals. The optical absorption spectrum obtained in the smectic A phase of 4-cyano-4'-octylbiphenyl had no absorption maximum in the visible region, but had an absorption increasing toward the shorter wavelengths below 400 nm, while a broad absorption band with a maximum around 550 nm was observed in the nematic phase. In the isotropic liquid phase an absorption band with a maximum at 480 nm was observed, but it was observed neither in the smectic A phase nor in the nematic phase. The absorption below 400 nm was observed in the liquid phase as well as in the smectic A phase. The assignment of the absorptions observed for each phase is discussed. Then it is suggested that the structural properties could be related to the formation and behavior of reaction intermediates.     

Dynamics of ultrafast intramolecular charge transfer with 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile in acetonitrile

The kinetics of the intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) reaction of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) in the polar solvent acetonitrile (MeCN) is investigated by fluorescence quantum yield and picosecond time-correlated single photon counting (SPC) experiments over the temperature range from -45 to +75 degrees C, together with femtosecond Sn <-- S1 transient absorption measurements at room temperature. For DMABN in MeCN, the fluorescence from the locally excited (LE) state is strongly quenched, with an unquenched to quenched fluorescence quantum yield ratio of 290 at 25 degrees C. Under these conditions, even very small amounts of the photoproduct 4-(methylamino)benzonitrile (MABN) severely interfere, as the LE fluorescence of MABN is in the same spectral range as that of DMABN. The influence of photoproduct formation could be overcome by a simultaneous analysis of the picosecond and photostationary measurements, resulting in data for the activation barriers Ea (5 kJ/mol) and Ed (32 kJ/mol) of the forward and backward ICT reaction as well as the ICT reaction enthalpy and entropy: DeltaH (-27 kJ/mol) and DeltaS [-38 J/(mol K)]. The reaction hence takes place over a barrier, with double-exponential fluorescence decays, as to be expected in a two-state reaction. From femtosecond transient absorption down to 200 fs, the LE and ICT excited state absorption (ESA) spectra of DMABN in n-hexane (LE) and in MeCN (LE and ICT) and also of 4-aminobenzonitrile in MeCN (LE) are obtained. For DMABN in MeCN, the quenching of the LE and the rise of the ICT ESA bands occurs with a single characteristic time of 4.1 ps, the same as the ICT reaction time found from the picosecond SPC experiments at 25 degrees C. The sharp ICT peak at 320 nm does not change its spectral position after a pump-probe delay time of 200 fs, which suggests that large amplitude motions do not take place after this time. The increase with time in signal intensity observed for the LE spectrum of DMABN in n-hexane between 730 and 770 nm, is attributed to solvent cooling of the excess excitation energy and not to an inverse ICT --> LE reaction, as reported in the literature.     

Effect of solvent on the subnanosecond decay of the second excited singlet state of tetramethylindanethione

The S₂ → S₀ fluorescence spectra and quantum yields and the S₂ lifetimes of 2,2,3,3-tetramethylindanethione (TMIT) have been measured in several solvents using a synchronously pumped picosecond dye laser excitation system. The S₂ nonradiative decay rate is markedly solvent dependent. In inert perfluoroalkane solvents remarkably large S₂-S₀ fluorescence quantum yields (θ_f = 0.14) and long S₂ lifetimes (τ = 880 ps) are measured. Hydrocarbons are efficient excited-state quenchers.     

Switching dynamics of the photochromic 1,1-dicyano-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1,8a-dihydroazulene probed by sub-30 fs spectroscopy

We report the first time resolved investigation of the ring opening dynamics of the 1,1-dicyano-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1,8a-dihydroazulene (CN-DHA) towards its vinylheptafulvene (CN-VHF) isomer. The kinetics are measured by sub-30 fs transient absorption spectroscopy for numerous probe wavelengths from 485 to 690 nm. The ring opening takes place within 1.2 ps on the CN-DHA-VHF S₁ potential energy surface. It is followed by the internal conversion from CN-VHF-S₁ to CN-VHF-S₀ in 13 ps. We observe coherent oscillations of low frequency modes (150, 190, 330 and 500 cm⁻¹) that are closely associated with the skeleton motions driving the CN-DHA structural changes immediately after the 30 fs UV excitation.     

2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶的紫外吸收光谱和共振拉曼光谱

硫代嘧啶碱基是光动力疗法潜在的重要光敏剂,其最低单重激发态的光物理研究已有广泛报道。然而,其较高激发态的跃迁性质和反应动力学研究较为稀少。因此,本文采用共振拉曼光谱和密度泛函理论计算方法研究2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶的紫外光谱和几个较高单重激发态的短时结构动力学。首先,基于共振拉曼光谱强度与电子吸收带振子强度f的关系,将紫外光谱去卷积成四个吸收带,分别为358 nm(f=0.0336)中等强度吸收带(A带),338 nm(f=0.1491)、301 nm(f=0.1795)和278 nm(f=0.3532)强而宽的吸收带(B、C和D带)。这一结果既吻合密度泛函理论计算结果,又符合共振拉曼光谱强度模式对紫外光谱带的预期。据此,去卷积得到的四个吸收带被分别指认为S0→S2跃迁、S0→S6跃迁、S0→S7跃迁和S_0→S_8跃迁。同时,分别对B,C和D带共振拉曼光谱进行了详细的指认,获得了短时动力学信息。结果表明,S_8态短时动力学的显著特征是在Franck-Condon区域或附近发生了S8(ππ~*)/S(nπ~*)势能面交叉引发的、伴随超快结构扭转的非绝热过程。S7和S6态短时动力学的主要特征是反应坐标的多维性,它们分别沿C_5C_6/C_2S_8/C_4S_(10)/N_2C_3+C_4N_3H_9/N_1C_2N_3/C_2N_1C_6/C_6N_1H_7/C_5C_6H_(12)和C_5C_6/N_3C_2/C_4S_(10)/C_2S_8+C_6N_1H_7/C_5C_6H_(12)/C_5C_6N_1/C_5C_6H_(12)/C_2N_1C_6/N_1C_2N_3/C_4N_3H_9/N_1C_2N_3等内坐标演化。     

4-硝基咪唑A-带激发态结构动力学

通过共振拉曼光谱实验和量子化学计算的方法研究了4-硝基咪唑(4NI)A-带激发态衰变动力学.对4NI的振动光谱、紫外电子吸收光谱、荧光光谱和共振拉曼光谱进行了指认.在全活化空间自洽场法(CASSCF)/6-31G(d)计算水平下获得了单重激发态S1(nOπ*)和S2(ππ*)和势能面交叉点S1(nOπ*)/S2(ππ*)的优化几何结构和能量,分析了A-带共振拉曼光谱的强度模式特征,获得了短时结构动力学,并结合全活化空间自洽场法(CASSCF)理论计算结果确定了4NI在S2(ππ*)态衰变通道主要是S2,FC→S2,min(ππ*)→S0辐射弛豫.     

Cyclometalated platinum(II) complex with strong and broadband nonlinear optical response

A cyclometalated platinum(II) 4,6-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl pentynyl complex (1) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Its photophysical and third-order nonlinear optical properties have been systematically investigated. This complex exhibits a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (1MLCT) absorption band between 400 and 500 nm and a 3MLCT emission band at approximately 591 nm at room temperature with a lifetime of approximately 100 ns. At 77 K, the emission band blue shifts. Both UV-vis absorption and emission spectra show solvent dependence. Low-polarity solvents cause a bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission bands. This complex also exhibits a broad and strong transient absorption from the near-UV to the near-IR spectral region, with a triplet absorption coefficient of 4933 L mol(-1) cm(-1) at 585 nm and a quantum yield of 0.51 for the formation of the triplet excited state. Nonlinear transmission and Z-scan techniques were employed to characterize the third-order nonlinearities of this complex. A strong and broadband reverse saturable absorption was observed for nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses due to the reduced ground-state absorption in the visible spectral range. It also exhibits a self-defocusing effect at 532 nm for nanosecond laser pulses. The excited-state absorption cross section deduced from the open-aperture Z-scan increases at longer wavelengths, with an exceptionally large ratio of excited-state absorption to ground-state absorption of 160 at 570 nm for picosecond laser pulses.     

Photophysics and nonlinear absorption of peripheral-substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The photophysical properties, such as the UV-vis absorption spectra, triplet transient difference absorption spectra, triplet excited-state extinction coefficients, quantum yields of the triplet excited state, and lifetimes of the triplet excited state, of 10 novel zinc phthalocyanine derivatives with mono- or tetraperipheral substituents have been systematically investigated in DMSO solution. All these complexes exhibit a wide optical window in the visible spectral range and display long triplet excited-state lifetimes (140-240 mus). It has been found that the complexes with tetrasubstituents at the alpha-positions exhibit a bathochromic shift in their UV-vis absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and triplet transient difference absorption spectra and have larger triplet excited-state absorption coefficients. The nonlinear absorption of these complexes has been investigated using the Z-scan technique. It is revealed that all complexes exhibit a strong reverse saturable absorption at 532 nm for nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses. The excited-state absorption cross sections were determined through a theoretical fitting of the experimental data using a five-band model. The complexes with tetrasubstituents at the alpha-positions exhibit larger ratios of triplet excited-state absorption to ground-state absorption cross sections (sigma T/sigma g) than the other complexes. In addition, the wavelength-dependent nonlinear absorption of these complexes was studied in the range of 470-550 nm with picosecond laser pulses. All complexes exhibit reverse saturable absorption in a broad visible spectral range for picosecond laser pulses. Finally, the nonlinear transmission behavior of these complexes for nanosecond laser pulses was demonstrated at 532 nm. All complexes, and especially the four alpha-tetrasubstituted complexes, exhibit stronger reverse saturable absorption than unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanines due to the larger ratio of their excited-state absorption cross sections to their respective ground-state absorption cross sections.     

Application of photosensitive polyimides as alignment layer to optical switching devices of a nematic liquid crystal

We have explored the change in alignment of a nematic liquid crystal, 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) with three types of photosensitive polyimide as the alignment layer by photoirradiation at 366 nm. The photosensitive polyimide alignment layer induced a reversible change in alignment of 5CB. It was observed that the 5CB molecules became aligned from homogeneous alignment to homeotropic on photoirradiation with a d.c. electric field as a bias, and reversed to the homogeneous state when photoirradiation was ceased. This result indicates that optical switching could be repeated by on and off switching of the excitation light at 366 nm. The optical switching of the nematic liquid crystal might be mainly due to a photophysical change in the polyimide surface which is affected by the chemical structures of the polyimides at the temperature at which 5CB exhibits a nematic phase. The optical switching of nematic liquid crystals with photosensitive polyimides as the alignment layer is a novel driving method for nematic liquid crystals.     

Application of photosensitive polyimides as alignment layer to optical switching devices of a nematic liquid crystal

We have explored the change in alignment of a nematic liquid crystal, 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) with three types of photosensitive polyimide as the alignment layer by photoirradiation at 366 nm. The photosensitive polyimide alignment layer induced a reversible change in alignment of 5CB. It was observed that the 5CB molecules became aligned from homogeneous alignment to homeotropic on photoirradiation with a d.c. electric field as a bias, and reversed to the homogeneous state when photoirradiation was ceased. This result indicates that optical switching could be repeated by on and off switching of the excitation light at 366 nm. The optical switching of the nematic liquid crystal might be mainly due to a photophysical change in the polyimide surface which is affected by the chemical structures of the polyimides at the temperature at which 5CB exhibits a nematic phase. The optical switching of nematic liquid crystals with photosensitive polyimides as the alignment layer is a novel driving method for nematic liquid crystals.     

Singlet versus triplet dynamics of β-carotene studied by quantum control spectroscopy

Biomolecules very often present complex energy deactivation networks with overlapping electronic absorption bands, making their study a difficult task. This can be especially true in transient absorption spectroscopy when signals from bleach, excited state absorption and stimulated emission contribute to the signal. However, quantum control spectroscopy can be used to discriminate specific electronic states of interest by applying specifically designed laser pulses. Recently, we have shown the control of energy flow in bacterial light-harvesting using shaped pump pulses in the visible and the selective population of pathways in carotenoids using an additional depletion pulse in the transient absorption technique. Here, we apply a closed-loop optimization approach to β-carotene using a spatial light modulator to decipher the energy flow network after a multiphoton excitation with a shaped ultrashort pulse in the near-IR. After excitation, two overlapping bands were detected and identified as the S₁ state and the first triplet state T₁. Using the transient absorption signal at a specific probe delay as feedback, the triplet signal could be optimized over the singlet contribution.     

Photophysical Properties of the Cationic Form of Neutral Red

Abstract— Photophysical properties of the cationic form of neutral red (NRH⁺), a phenazine-based dye of biological importance, have been investigated in several protic and aprotic solvents using optical absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence and picosecond laser flash photolysis techniques. Absorption and fluorescence characteristics of the dye in protic solvents indicate the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the NRH⁺ and solvent molecules in the ground state as well as in the excited state. Measurements of the fluorescence lifetime in normal and heavy water also support the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Time-resolved transient absorption spectra obtained in the picosecond laser flash photolysis experiments show only the absorption band due to the S_n← S₁ absorption. The picosecond transient absorption results do not indicate any spectral shifts attributable to the hydrogen bond formation dynamics between the excited NRH⁺ and the protic solvent molecules. It is inferred that the hydrogen bonding dynamics are much faster than the time resolution of our picosecond setup (∼35 ps).     

Axial halogen ligand effect on photophysics and optical power limiting of some indium naphthalocyanines

Three axially substituted complexes, 2,3-octa(3,5-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-2,3-naphthalocyaninato indium chloride (1a), 2,3-octa(3,5-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-2,3-naphthalocyaninato indium bromide (1b), and 2,3-octa(3,5-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-2,3-naphthalocyaninato indium iodide (1c) have been synthesized and their photophysical properties have been investigated. Optical power limiting of nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) laser pulses at 532 nm using these complexes has been demonstrated. All complexes display strong Q(0,0) absorption and measurable emission in the near-infrared region and exhibit strong excited-state absorption in the range of 470-700 nm upon ns laser excitation. The different axial ligands show negligible effect on the linear absorption, emission, and transient difference absorption spectra. However, the excited-state lifetime, triplet excited-state quantum yield, and efficiency to generate singlet oxygen are affected significantly by the heavier axial ligand. Brominated and iodinated complexes 1b and 1c show higher triplet excited-state quantum yield, while chlorinated complex 1a has longer excited-state lifetime and is more efficient in generating singlet oxygen. The iodinated complex 1c displayed the best optical limiting due to the higher ratio of excited-state absorption cross section to ground state absorption cross section (sigma(eff)/sigma(0)).     

Effect of polar substituents on the properties of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystalline materials containing asymmetric cores

A series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystals bearing different polar substituents (n-NPO-X, where X=Me, OMe, Cl, F, CN, and NO₂) at the phenyl 4-position have been synthesized and characterized. These angular oxadiazole-based liquid crystals, which are composed of asymmetric cores containing naphthalene units, exhibit stable mesogenic properties including the nematic and smectic A phases. With analogous structural design, the transition temperatures, mesomorphic phases, optical properties, and internal quantum efficiencies show strong dependence on the terminal substitution. In general, by increasing the terminal dipoles, the temperature ranges of the mesophases are enhanced, and both the absorption and photoluminescence spectra are shifted to longer wavelengths.     

Resonance CARS study of long-lived species of diphenylhexatriene generated by monophotonic excitation in polar solvent

The transient absorption and resonance CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering) spectra of photo-excited all-trans-1,6-diphenyl-1,3, 5-hexatriene (DPH) were studied and a hitherto unknown species was detected from the spectrum observed for an acetone solution. The excited species was generated by monophotonic excitation at 337 nm (ascertained from the dependence of the CARS intensity and that of the transient absorption on the UV power). A lifetime of ≈ 2 μs was obtained by time-resolved CARS. The new species was tentatively ascribed to a radical cation because of its anomalously long lifetime, agreement of the absorption maximum, and disagreement of CARS signals from those of DPH in the S₁ and T₁ states and from those of the radical anion.     

Laser photolysis of zinc porphyrin dissolved in cyanohexylbiphenyl liquid crystal

A laser photolysis study of ZnTPP (P) oriented in nematic and isotropic cyanohexylbiphenyl (6CB) as a function of added 1.4-benzoquinone (Q) is reported. In the absence of Q, enhancement of triplet absorption below the clearing point (nematic phase) is observed. It is attributed to the improved alignment of the optical transition in the ordered matrix and also to the increase in the intersystem crossing efficiency. T−S₁. In the presence of Q in the nematic phase. An additional increase in triplet absorption is noticed. This result is interpreted in terms of a triplet radical pair [P^+√…Q^−√]^T,RP formation which is facilitated by the ordering in the liquid crystal, thus providing an additional channel for triplet formation. The triplet P^T in 6CB (nematic or isotropic) is quenched with a second-order rate of ≈10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ as compared to 2 × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ in toluene.     

Time-resolved spectroscopic studies on phenyl-substituted poly(phenylenevinylene)s by picosecond excite- and probe technique

Photoinduced picosecond absorption spectra of poly(1,4-phenylene-1,2-diphenylvinylene) (DP-PPV) and of related oligomeric and polymeric compounds were investigated in toluene solution. Between 400 and 900 nm the rise (5 … 40 ps) and decay (40 … 300 ps) of three transient absorption bands have been observed. The low energy absorption appears with a time delay of 5 ps and has its peak at 680 nm (1.8 eV). This band position is coincident with the well known ECS radical ion (polaron) absorption and is therefore assigned to this type of photogenerated charged species. The other two absorptions appear at higher energies. One of them is situated at 2.8 eV which is near to the band edge (2.9 eV). It originates immediately with the exciting pulse and is attributed to a neutral excited state. The other one (2.7 eV) is suggested to be due to an ECS diion (bipolaron).