向列相液晶缺陷光子晶体透射光谱偏振敏感特性研究

研究了向列相液晶缺陷TiO2和SiO2交替的光学多层膜一维光子晶体透射谱偏振敏感特性。外电压下透射光谱测试和模拟结果显示,对于平行取向的向列相液晶,当自然光垂直入射时,禁带中两处出现e(TE模式)光和o光(TM模式)透射峰,具有偏振敏感性。随着电压增大,e光透射峰蓝移与o光透射峰合二为一,光谱可调谐范围分别为31和34nm;而对于取向混乱的向列相液晶,禁带中两处出现独立的透射峰,无偏振敏感性。随着电压增大峰位也蓝移,光谱可调谐范围分别为64和15nm。通过混乱取向液晶分子,可以使o光和e光有效折射率值相等,获得偏振不敏感特性。     

Light-scattering experiments in dye-doped liquid crystals both to determine crystal parameters and to construct consistent neural network empirical physical formulas for scattering amplitudes

The aim of this paper is two-fold. Firstly, static laser light-scattering amplitude measurements in azo-dye doped nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) were made versus scattering angle, temperature and applied bias voltage. Three NLC parameters were determined: the elastic constant ratios K₁₁/K₂₂ by regression, phase transition temperatures, and Freedericksz voltages from the graphs. They were all doping ratio dependent. Secondly, as a novel approach, by a nonlinear universal function approximator layered feedforward neural network (LFNN) we constructed an explicit form of empirical physical formulas (EPFs) for theoretically unknown nonlinear azo-dye doped NLC scattering amplitude functions. Excellent LFNN test set (i.e. yet-to-be measured experimental data) predictions prove that the constructed LFNN-EPPs estimate unknown amplitude functions consistently. The LFFN-EPFs, too, confirmed the doping-ratio dependency. Also, comparing LFNN and regression amplitude fits, the LFNN fits were significantly better. In conclusion, physical laws embedded in the physical data can be consistently extracted by LFNN. One major potential application in the nonlinear optics domain is that these LFNN-EPFs, by differentiation, integration, minimization, etc., can be used to obtain further NLC scattering amplitude related molecular structural physical quantities. This could in turn help us to develop new nonlinear optical materials.     

Voltage-controlled optical switch in planar nematic liquid crystal film

This study presents an integrated device that consists of a directional coupler and an electro-optic switch. The device is designed to include a nematic liquid crystal cell, comprising a grating-like electrode. Applying the appropriate voltage to the cell yields a periodically distributed refractive index. An incident polarized beam will couple to an adjacent channel if it is parallel to the channel. The coupling efficiency is controlled by applied voltage. An obliquely injected polarized beam will be reflected and refracted in the channel, and propagated along a curved path. The route of the beam can be controlled by applying the voltage. A multiport routing was achieved for voltage modulation. In addition, the distribution of refractive index is also investigated by employing conoscopic technique experimentally and numerically.     

Applied electric field effect on light-scattering birefringence of dye-doped liquid crystal molecule and consistent neural network empirical physical formula construction for scattering intensities

In this paper, we realized two objectives. Firstly, birefringence of azo and anthraquinone dye-doped nematic liquid crystal (NLC) molecules was investigated by applied electric field dependent laser scattering intensities. The birefringence was essentially calculated from ordinary and extraordinary ray phase difference, which is determined from the measured intensities corresponding to parallel and perpendicular orientations of analyzer to polarizer. The birefringence was found to be dependent on both applied voltage and the kind of the doping dye. As the second objective, by nonlinear universal function approximator layered feedforward neural network (LFNN), we constructed explicit form of empirical physical formulas (EPFs) for experimentally measured dye-doped NLC nonlinear scattering intensities. Excellent LFNN test set predictions over yet-to-be measured experimental data proved that the constructed LFNN-EPFs estimated the measured intensities consistently. The correlation coefficients assessing the goodness of predictions were about r = 0.998for all cases. The LFNN-EPFs also extracted the intensity dependency on the kind of dye used. When theoretical and LFNN-EPFs intensities are compared, we conclude that given certain experimental conditions, theoretical and LFNN-EPFs predictions are in excellent agreement. In this sense, we can say that the physical laws embedded in the birefringence scattering data can be consistently extracted by LFNN. Therefore, judging from the consistent extraction of the molecular dependencies of pure and doped NLC intensities, we predict that the LFNN-EPFs can help to identify unknown molecular structural parameters in liquid crystal extracts. More concretely, by suitable mathematical operations such as differentiation, integration, minimization on these intensity LFNN-EPFs, some useful information into the charge distributions of the LC molecules can be gained.     

Thermally enhanced optical nonlinearity in nematic liquid crystal close to phase transition temperature

This study investigates the beam profile and the liquid crystal (LC) arrangement affected by an optical field on LC thin films at a temperature close to nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature (T_NI). A combined microscopic and conoscopic technique was used in experiments as a convenient way to analyze the optical nonlinearity that is associated with the molecular configuration of nematic liquid crystal (NLC). An optical field combined with thermal enhancement enhances molecular reorientation and causes additional molecular excitation along the axis of propagation of the beam. The reorientational nonlinearity yields an undulating structure with multi-foci; the length between each pair of foci increases with time, as described.     

Optical properties and optimized conditions for polymer dispersed liquid crystal containing UV curable polymer and nematic liquid crystal

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal was synthesized by combining a UV curable polymer and a nematic liquid crystal. Optimized conditions for the optical properties of the PDLC were found to be the concentration ratio of LC and polymer at 7:3, UV curing time of 18 min, and the thickness less than 25 μm. In the case of the high LC concentration (≥70%) sample, the amount of liquid crystal segregated in the polymerization process was enough to form a spherical shape of droplet, and the threshold driving voltage was reduced. The response time for the turn-on process was nearly independent of the concentration, while the turn-off process was almost proportional to the concentration. From microscopic image and UV–visible spectrum analysis, the relation between LC droplet morphology and optical properties were explained.     

Two-dimensional cell parameters measurement of nematic liquid crystal using optical interferometry and Fourier transform fringe analysis technique

We report a method for the measurement of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell parameters i.e., switching voltage, birefringence, retardation, dielectric anisotropy, average tilt angle and change in refractive index with applied DC voltage to LC material. The proposed method is based on optical interferometry and Fourier transform fringe analysis technique, in which we obtain 2-dimensional (2D) phase map of the interferograms as a function of applied voltage. Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) was used for the study of cell parameters and interferograms were recorded at different applied DC voltages to NLC cell using CCD camera. From the phase map, 2D-refractive index distribution of the LC cell with applied voltage was reconstructed. Analytical equations are derived based on optical interferometry and then solved to obtain cell parameters. The present method is fast and can give 2D-cell parameters from only two quick interferograms.     

Temperature and orientation dependence of surface relief gratings based on dye-doped polymer film with the interface of nematic liquid crystals

The formation of surface relief grating on dye-doped polymer film with the interface of nematic liquid crystals has been investigated by means of the holographic technique. The first-order diffraction efficiency of surface relief grating depends on the temperature and the orientation of molecular director in the interface of nematic liquid crystals. The diffraction efficiency is roughly independent of thermal fluctuations of molecular director in the most part of nematic temperature range and apparently drops near the transition temperature. The morphology of surface relief grating demonstrates that the surface modulation is larger for molecular director parallel to the groove direction. The experimental result also shows that the first-order diffraction efficiency is dependent on the surface modulation of surface relief grating.     

The molecular dynamics of nematic liquid crystal confined in porous membranes treated by different surfactants

The molecular dynamics of the well-known nematic liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl geometrically restricted in Anopore and Synpor porous membranes with various pore structure and treated by different surfactants (namely decanoic acid and lecithin) is compared. In the Anopore membrane the chosen surfactants induce the homeotropic orientation of the molecules on the walls of the cylindrical pores and observed corresponding relaxation processes (librational modes) are practically the same. The dielectric measurements of lecithin treated Synpor membranes reveals the reorientation of the molecules from planar to homeotropic on the complex multilayer structure present in their volume. The dielectric strengths of the observed two molecular processes (δ-process and librational mode) are inversed in the ratio compared to the untreated membranes. The observed differences in molecular dynamics results from the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in untreated and treated membranes and the structure of the membranes themselves.     

向列相液晶中光学相位共轭技术的研究进展

对向列相液晶中光学相位共轭技术的研究进展进行了介绍,分析总结了向列相液晶中光学相位共轭过程的机理与实验方法,并对向列相液晶中的光学相位共轭技术的应用前景进行了展望。     

Nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers filled with nematic liquid crystals

We have investigated the nonlinear propagation of light in photonic crystal fibers filled with nematic liquid crystals. We analyzed a configuration with a periodic modulation of the refractive index corresponding to a matrix of waveguides. Matrices of coupled waveguides allow observing a variety of new phenomena both for low power light beam propagation and with an existence of nonlinear effects. The opportunity for the creation of solitary waves caused by the interplay between diffraction and nonlinear effects in these kinds of fibers is investigated. At low power the propagating light beam spreads as it couples to more and more waveguides. When the intensity is increased the light modifies the refractive index distribution, inducing a defect in the periodic structure. The creation of such a defect can lead to a situation in which the light becomes self-localized and its diffractive broadening is eliminated. Eventually, in the case of positive Kerr-type nonlinearity, a discrete soliton can be created. In the case of negative nonlinearity the refractive index decreases with the optical power and can lead to bandgap shifting. The incident beam, with a frequency initially within the bandgap, is then turned outside the bandgap resulting in the changing of the propagation effect for the discrete diffraction effect. As a consequence the delocalization of the light can be observed. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Application, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujscie, Poland     

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).     

Investigation of the Kerr effect and third-order susceptibility constants in a nematic liquid crystal

In this paper, the static Kerr effect was investigated for the W-1680 at temperatures above the nematic-isotropic transition temperature and compared with 9CHBT. We experimentally measured the electro-optical Kerr constant and the pre-transitional behavior. The Kerr law has been confirmed and the variation of the inverse Kerr constant, with a temperature above the smectic-isotropic transition temperatures, were determined. The linear dependence of (T − T*)^− 1 on the Kerr constant is found to be in good agreement with the predications of the Landau-De Gennes model. Additionally, the temperature dependence of third order susceptibility has been studied. This value for these samples will reduce when the temperature increases.     

Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigations on intramolecular electron transfer processes within a synthesized methoxynaphthalene dyad by using a nematic liquid crystal medium

UV-vis, steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigations were made on photoinduced charge separation and thermal charge recombination processes involved within a novel synthesized dyad, 1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-(4-methoxy-naphthalen-1-yl)-propenone (MNCA) where the donor 1-methoxynaphthalene (MNT) and the acceptor p-choloroacetophenone (PCA) moieties are connected by a short unsaturated olefinic bond. The measurements were made within the pseudo-ordered domain (just above nematic-isotropic (N-I) phase transition temperature, >308 K) of a nematic liquid crystal, 4-(n-pentyl)-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). Results observed are compared with those obtained from the similar measurements in isotropic media. The charge separation and recombination rates remain more-or-less unchanged within the experimental error irrespective of the polarity of the environment, whether in pseudo-ordered domain (ε_S∼10.5) of a nematic liquid crystal 5CB or in highly polar isotropic medium ACN (ε_S∼37.5). The structural rigidity of the dyad MNCA having stable elongated form both in the ground as well as in the photoexcited states seems to be the reason for this unique behavior of solvent insensitivity. The theoretical predictions done by ab initio method density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP/6-311 G (d, p) basis function correlate well with experimental observations of formations of only one stable elongated (E-type) conformer both in the ground and electronic excited state.     

On the transmission by liquid crystal tapered optical fibers

A three-layer liquid crystal tapered optical fiber (LCTF) is investigated with the emphasis on the power confinements by the low order TE and TM modes sustained in the different sections of LCTF. The outermost clad section is considered to be made of liquid crystal with radial anisotropy whereas the core and the inner clad are dielectric regions. Rigorous field expressions in the different LCTF sections are deduced, and the plots of power confinement factors (or the relative distributions) are ultimately made considering different fiber dimensions. The results reveal that the TE modes confine maximum amount of power in the outermost liquid crystal region, which is attributed to the radial anisotropy of the section. Such features of LCTFs attract their usefulness in the area of field coupling devices and optical sensing where evanescent field technique is primarily implemented.     

An experimental optimization study for concentration and laser power effects in the fullerene-C60 and azo dye doped guest-host liquid crystal systems

The current-voltage characteristics of a famous guest-host liquid crystal system have been investigated under dark and laser illumination conditions. Dependency of current modulation with respect to concentration and laser power gives some optimization possibilities and estimations on the reorientation mechanisms of the liquid crystals. The current-voltage character of pure E7 is almost unchanged with laser pumping, while the fullerene and dye doping are enhancing effects in their individual and collective usage. The negative resistance effect was observed for some certain concentrations of the dye and C₆₀, and this peculiarity is shown to be switched with laser illumination. The mobility of the doped LC samples was calculated by transient current measurements and its dependency on the dye concentration and the laser power was investigated. It is evaluated that the effect of methyl red is a critical parameter in photoconductivity applications of liquid crystals.     

Investigation of dielectric properties and diffraction efficiency enhancements caused by photothermal effect in DR9 dye-doped nematic liquid crystal

In this work, we studied dielectric properties and laser-induced refractive index changes originating from photothermal effects of liquid crystal material doped with Disperse Red 9 (DR9) dye. Dye concentration is arranged to be between percentages changing from 0.2 wt.% to 1 wt.% in E63 nematic liquid crystal. Nonlinear optical properties such as diffraction efficiency (η) and refractive index modulation (Δn) were investigated by diffraction grating measurements. It was found the diffraction efficiency of pure E63 nematic liquid crystal is 1%. As the doping amount of DR9 dye in nematic LC is increased, diffraction efficiency took higher values and the maximum diffraction efficiency of 10% was gained with E63 doped with 0.8 wt.%DR9 dye. Moreover, dielectric permittivity and dielectric anisotropy values of the samples were investigated in the frequency range of 100 Hz-10 MHz by using dielectric spectroscopy technique. It was observed that dielectric constant values of the liquid crystal material are strongly affected by doping with dye.     

Nonlinear optical responses of Sudan IV doped liquid crystal by z-scan and moiré deflectometry techniques

The nonlinear optical properties of a nematic liquid crystal doped with an azo dye were investigated. The magnitude and the sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index, n₂, were measured using both single-beam z-scan and moiré deflectometry techniques. The measurements were performed at 532 nm using a Nd:Yag CW laser. The positive sign showed that sample which was studied possess a self-focusing optical nonlinearity. Rather close agreement was found between the values for n₂ obtained by z-scan and by moiré deflectometry. The nonlinear refractive index was found to be in the order of 10^− 6 (cm²/W) and the nonlinear absorption coefficient to be β = 0.171 (cm/W).     

反射式电寻址红外切变聚合物网络液晶空间光调制器

为了给高帧频红外成像导引头半实物仿真提供高帧频、宽光谱、大动态范围的红外场景,利用切变聚合物网络液晶(SPNLC)电光调制机理制作了反射式电寻址SPNLC空间光调制器.通过LabView编写控制程序,利用计算机并口数据寄存器和控制寄存器为译码放大电路提供写入信号,驱动SPNLC盒各像素,实现红外图像的显示.实验得到厚度为13 μm的反射式电寻址红外SPNLC空间光调制器,当入射辐射的黑体温度为300℃,驱动电压为60 V时,测得样机所显示的几幅长波红外图像(8 μm～12 μm) 的帧频为100 Hz,输出最大温差大于15℃.