New compounds with incommensurate phases: Cs2CdI4 and Cs2ZnI4

Abstract

In this paper the results of birefringence studies and of optical observations in polarized light in a wide temperature region are presented for crystals Cs₂CdI₄ and Cs₂ZnI₄. There is the following sequence of phases: commensurate orthorhombic Pnma ? incommensurate ? monoclinic ferroelastic P2₁/n ? triclinic ferroelastic PT. A correlation was observed between the peculiarities of birefringence and NQR spectra temperature dependence. An assumption is made, that in Cs₂ZnI₄ crystal in a broad pre-transition region (T - T _i = 100 K) precursor clusters exist, which manifest themselves as coexistence of NQR spectra of two phases and as deviation of birefringence from the linear temperature dependence (“tail”).     

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.     

Orientational order parameter studies in two symmetric dimeric liquid crystals – an optical study

The optical technique developed by [W. Kuczynski, B. Zywucki, and J. Malecki, Determination of orientational order parameter in various liquid-crystalline phases, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 381 (2002), pp. 1–19; B.J. Zywucki and W. Kuczynski, IEEE transactions on optical phenomena – The orientational order in nematic liquid crystals from birefringence measurements, Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 8 (2001), pp. 512–515] is fabricated and used to determine the orientational order parameter in two dimeric liquid crystalline compounds nematic and SmA phases of α,ω-bis(4-alkylanilinebenzylidene-4′-oxy)alkane (m.OnO.m) homologous series. The compounds studied are 5.O8O.5 and 5.O10O.5 which exhibit nematic and SmA, and nematic phases, respectively. The orientational order parameter in both the phases of nematic and SmA phases of the compound one and the nematic phase of the compound two are obtained using the principle of Newton's rings which gives directly the birefringence, δn of the liquid crystal dimer. The merits of the technique used are presented over the conventional techniques for the determination of orientational order parameter. The results for the two compounds are compared with those values estimated from n _e, n _o and density using the two internal field models due to Vuks and Neugebauer applicable to nematic phase.     

The effects of external applied voltage on the nonlinear refractive index and the birefringence of a dye-doped nematic mixture

The nonlinear refractive index, n₂, and the birefringence, Δn, of a nematic liquid crystal mixture (denoted as 1294-1b) doped with a anthraquinone derivative (denoted as AQ) dye were measured as a function of an external ac applied voltage. The self-phased modulation effect was used to measure the nonlinear refractive index of homeotropical-aligned samples. The change of the dyed liquid crystal nonlinearity, which is the direct impact of the applied voltage on the dye molecules orientation, was not observed for the nonlinear response of the pure liquid crystal. Planar (homogeneous) aligned samples were used for birefringence measurements by taking into account the absorption coefficients of the dye. The birefringence decreased to a limiting value in the high voltage region for both pure and dye-doped samples, although in the presence of the absorbing dye the birefringence of the liquid crystal was not approximately changed.The polarized absorption spectra of the dye in nematic mixture were recorded in parallel-aligned liquid crystal cell and its dichroic ratio R and the order parameter S_d were obtained. The electro-optical effect of the guest-host system was also using polarized spectroscopic method.     

Critical behavior in the vicinity of nematic to smectic A (N–SmA) phase transition of two polar–polar binary liquid crystalline systems

Phase diagram, critical behavior and order of the nematic (N)–smectic A (SmA) phase transition of two polar–polar binary systems (i) 4-n-heptyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (7OCB) and 4-n-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB); (ii) 4-n-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) and 4-n-nonyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (9OCB) by means of a high-resolution temperature scanning measurement of birefringence have been reported in this work. A simple power law analysis has been adopted to extract the specific heat critical exponent (α′) at N–SmA transition from birefringence data. The α′ for N–SmA transition indicates a uniform crossover behavior and has appeared to be non-universal in nature. With increasing concentration of the higher homologues for both the binary systems, the N–SmA transition reveals a strong tendency to be driven towards the tricritical nature. The 3D-XY limit (i.e. α′ = ?0.007) for N–SmA transition reaches at the concentration x_8OCB = 0.28 corresponding to the McMillan ratio 0.914, whereas the tricritical point has been found to appear near x_9OCB = 1.0 corresponding to McMillan ratio 0.992.     

Application of dual-frequency liquid crystal for tunable selective filtration of infrared radiation

The novel dual-frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) consisting of 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), 4-hexyloxyphenyl ester 4′-hexyloxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid (C2), and 4-n-pentanoyloxy-benzoic acid-4′-hexyloxyphenyl ester (H22) was developed and its basic dielectric characteristics were determined. Transmission spectra of the Al₂O₃ particles-DFLC system in both the ordinary electrooptical cell and the twist-structure were studied. It was shown that for certain changes in the frequency of the applied electric field, a transmission region maximum of the Al₂O₃ particles-DFLC ordinary cell switches from one wavenumber to the other. While the twist-structure of the system at low frequencies passes the light at the same wavenumbers but it becomes practically opaque at high frequencies. The experimental results are explained by the optical homogeneity of the system in a narrow wavelength interval when the refractive indices of the particle material and the matrix are close, and also by reorientation of the liquid crystal molecules as the frequency of the applied voltage changes.     

Optical studies of the ferroelastic phase transitions in KFe(MoO4)2

ABSTRACT

The ferroelastic phase transitions in KFe(MoO₄)₂ have been studied by means of polarized light microscopy. The crystal undergoes a sequence of ferroelastic phase transitions. It has been found that the second transition consists of two transitions separated by the temperature interval of about 0.4 K. Both these transitions are of the first order and are evidenced through a phase front passing, without the domain structure rebuilding. The disposition of optical indicatrix axes n_g, n_m has been established, and the birefringence has been measured in the plane (0001) in the temperature range covering all ferroelastic phases. From temperature studies of the morphic birefringence, a critical exponent of the order parameter has been estimated.     

Polarization anisotropy of single crystal opal films

Single-crystal opal films have been prepared by the moving-meniscus and gravitational sedimentation methods. It has been found using conoscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry that these photonic crystal opal films possess birefringence so that the optical indicatrix is a three-axial ellipsoid. The indicatrix axis N _g is directed along the crystal growth axis, the axis N _m lies in the film plane and is orthogonal to the axis N _g , and the axis N _p coincides with the normal to the (111) crystallographic plane, which corresponds to the triclinic system of the crystal.     

Optical studies of phase transitions in oxyfluoride (NH4)2NbOF5

Polarization-optical studies and measurements of the birefringence Δn and the angle of rotation of the optical indicatrix for the (NH₄)₂NbOF₅ crystal have been carried out in the temperature range 100–350 K. Two anomalies of the birefringence have been revealed at the temperatures T ₀₁ = 258 K and T ₀₂ ≈ 219 K. According to the twinning pattern, the crystal undergoes successive changes in symmetry: orthorhombic ↔ monoclinic 1 ↔ monoclinic 2. The twofold axis of the monoclinic phases (or the normal to the plane) is directed along [001]_or. The effect of the uniaxial compression along [011]_or and the electric field E ≈ 25 kV/cm along [100]_or on the twin structure has been studied. The ferroelastic phase transition at T ₀₁ is due to the appearance of the shear deformation x ₄(T) and is accompanied by significant anomalies of the birefringence. Strong pretransition phenomena mask the jumps in the birefringence Δn(T) and in the angle of rotation of the indicatrix φ(T) at T ₀₁.     

Orientational order in liquid crystals exhibited by some binary mixtures of rod-like and bent-core molecules

We report measurements of the temperature variations of the optical birefringence in the nematic (N) and partial bilayer SmA (SmA_d) phases in 4-n-octyloxy 4^′ -cyanobiphenyl made of rod-like (R) molecules and five mixtures of this compound with 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(3-methylbenzoyloxy)] 4^′ -n- dodecylbiphenyl 4^′ -carboxylate, made of bent-core (BC) molecules. The birefringence decreases with the concentration x of the BC molecules but the macroscopic order parameter initially decreases upto 11mol% of BC molecules and subsequently increases with x . This is attributed to the possible formation of polar clusters of BC molecules. Orientation of BC molecules changes between the N and SmA_d phases and the birefringence data in the two phases imply that the kink angle of the BC molecules is ∼ 90^° rather than ∼ 110^° as obtained from calculations which minimize the energy of the molecule. IR spectroscopic measurements on the mixture with 11mol% of BC molecules have been used to estimate the molecular order parameter S of the R molecules, and to provide additional support for a relatively small kink angle of BC molecules.     

Linear magnetoacoustic birefringence effects in FeBO3

A theory of magnetoacoustic birefringence in the weak, easy-plane ferromagnet FeBO₃ is formulated with allowance for the mechanical boundary conditions at the sample in the experiment. The amplitude of the acoustic wave transmitted through the crystal is calculated as a function of the magnetic field; the dependence satisfactorily describes the experimental results. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 901–904 (May 1997)     

Cluster self-organization of nanotubes in a nematic phase: The percolation behavior and appearance of optical singularities

The structural features, as well as the optical and electrophysical properties of a 5CB nematic liquid crystal with additions of multilayer carbon nanotubes, have been investigated in the concentration range C = 0.0025–0.1 wt %. The self-aggregation of nanotubes into clusters with a fractal structure occurs in the liquid crystal. At 0.025 wt %, the clusters are merged, initiating the percolation transition of the composite to a state with a high electric conductivity. The strong interaction of 5CB molecules with the surface of nanotube clusters is responsible for the formation of micron surface liquid crystal layers with an irregular field of elastic stresses and a complex structure of birefringence. They are easily observed in a polarization microscope and visualize directly invisible submicron nanotube aggregates. Their transverse size increases when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal cell. Two mechanisms of the generation of optical singularities in the passing laser beam have been revealed. Optical vortices appear in the speckle fields of laser radiation scattered at the indented boundaries of the nanotube clusters, whereas the birefringence of the beam in surface liquid-crystal layers is accompanied by the appearance of polarization C points.     

Loss-reduced highly birefringent selectively liquid-filled photonic crystal fibers

We have theoretically investigated the birefringence and loss properties of the selectively liquid-filled photonic crystal fibers with the liquid asymmetrically infiltrated into one-line air holes along x-axis. A high birefringence value B = 1.74 × 10⁻³ can be achieved at λ = 1.55 μm. By varying the index of the infiltrating liquid, the birefringence values are shown to be well tuned. In addition, the confinement losses can be efficiently reduced by diminishing the number of liquid holes, which is quite useful for optical devices.     

Synthesis,vibrational, thermal,mechanical and third-order nonlinear optical properties of sodium 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoate monohydrate crystal for optical limiting applications✰

A nonlinear optical (NLO) sodium 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoate monohydrate (Na4M3N) single crystal was synthesized and grown by the slow cooling solution growth method using an ethanol-water (1:1) mixed solvent. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) reveals the crystallinity of Na4M3N compound. The Na4M3N crystal was estimated with a single crystal XRD instrument and it was identified to be in the centrosymmetric space group (P2₁/c) having a monoclinic system. The vibrational, proton (¹H) and carbon (¹³C) NMR spectral analysis substantiates the functional groups, hydrogen and carbons in the synthesized compound. The Hirshfeld surfaces analysis was executed to know the different type of interactions present in the crystal. From the UV–vis spectrum, the optical band gap and cut-off wavelength of the Na4M3N crystal are endowed to be 5.06 eV and 254 nm respectively. The Na4M3N crystal was subjected to a thermogravimetric as well as differential thermal analysis for discerning the thermal characteristics. The LDT value of crystal was endowed to be 5.8 GW/cm² using Nd: YAG laser and the value is superior to that of KDP and Urea. The emission region of the compound was identified by the photoluminescence emission spectrum. The crystalline quality was again confirmed by lifetime measurements. The thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dt) was determined to be –3.5 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹. The reverse saturable absorption observed by third-order NLO studies dictates the suitability for optical limiting applications. Vickers microhardness test showed that Na4M3N crystal was a soft material. The average etch pit density (3.2 × 10³ cm⁻²) was determined from chemical etching studies. The complex dielectric constant, electric modulus and electrical conductivity values were measured as a function of frequency to get information on the conduction mechanisms.     

Universal scaling of dielectric response of various liquid crystals and glass-forming liquids

Abstract

We present a new generalized scaling relationship accounting both for the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity data. The generalized scaling procedure has been successfully used for various relaxation processes in liquid crystals (4-bromobenzylidene-4′-pentyloxyaniline, 4-bromobenzylidene-4′-hexyloxyaniline, 4′-butyl-4-(2-methylbutoxy)-azoxybenzene, 4-ethyl-4′-octylazoxybenzene), and in glass-forming liquids (glycerol, propylene carbonate, salol, cresolphthalein-dimethylether). As it is shown, one obtains common master-curve for liquid-like phases (isotropic liquid, cholesteric, nematic, smectic A), solid-like phases (smectic B, conformationally disorder crystal) and supercooled liquid phase.     

Surface and flexoelectric polarization in a nematic liquid crystal 5CB

The temperature dependence of the surface polarization has been measured for both the planar and homeotropic orientation of a nematic liquid crystal at a solid substrate. A conventional liquid crystal 5CB, pure and doped with an azo-dye, was used in cells with controlled asymmetry for light absorption. The measurements have been made by a pyroelectric technique using short pulses of a YAG laser to create a temperature increment. The latter, in turn, was measured independently by a novel time-resolved “optical thermometer” technique monitoring temperature-dependent birefringence by a He- Ne laser beam. In accordance with the symmetry of the order parameter, the surface polarization has different sign for the two orientations, its magnitude ranges from -4 to +2pC/m. The same technique has been used for the measurement of the flexoelectric polarization in hybrid cells. The sum of the flexoelectric coefficients is e ₁ + e ₃ = - 13pC/m at 25°C. Received 28 February 2000 and Received in final form 5 September 2000     

Investigation of the structure,physical properties,and phase transition in SrAlF<Subscript>5</Subscript>

Crystals of SrAlF₅ have been grown by the Bridgman method from the melt and by sintering of the components. Optical polarization studies and measurements of the thermal expansion and birefringence coefficients have been carried out over a wide temperature range. The electromechanical coefficient d ₃₃ has been measured, and the optical second harmonic, dielectric hysteresis loop, and optical quality of the crystal have been assessed. X-ray diffraction investigations have been performed to identify the revealed compounds. It has been demonstrated that the SrAlF₅ crystals obtained under the growth conditions chosen have I4₁/a symmetry and do not undergo structural phase transitions in the temperature range 100–800 K. Crystalline inclusions of the AlOF oxyfluoride have been revealed in crystals grown with an AlF₃ excess. The birefringence of the AlOF crystal is an order of magnitude higher than that of SrAlF₅, does not depend on temperature, and has no anomalies up to 800 K.     

Efficient continuous-wave YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/Nd:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Raman laser at 1176 nm

We present a simple and compact continuous-wave (CW) 1176 nm laser based on self-frequency Raman conversion in continuous-grown YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ composite crystal. With a composite crystal 30 mm in length, a maximum output power up to 1.84 W was achieved at the incident diode pump power of 23.6 W. Corresponding to overall optical conversion, the efficiency was 7.8% and the slope efficiency was 8.5%. The conversion efficiency has been doubled compared with the conventional Nd:YVO₄ CW self-frequency Raman laser. The excellent performance of this laser shows that the long continuous-grown YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ composite crystal is promising in the application of CW Raman lasers and ideal for miniaturization.     

Optimal design of achromatic quarter-wave plate using twisted nematic liquid crystal cells

A novel configuration of achromatic quarter-wave plate using two twisted nematic liquid crystal (TNLC) cells is presented. The 4 × 4 Mueller matrix is used to describe the optical properties of the liquid crystal cells. The universal tabu (Utabu) search method is used for optimizing the structural parameters. Simulation results indicate that the designed structure is capable of turning a linearly polarized light into perfectly circularly polarized light and vice versa in wavelength range 1200–1650 nm. The manufacturing tolerances of cell gap, twisted angle, etc. are good.PACS: 42.79.K