Ukranian Liquid Crystal Society

Abstract

The Third Ukrainian Liquid Crystal Conference, was held in Kiev, at the Institute of Physics, 10 and 11 January, 1995. More than 50 delegates, representing 12 liquid crystal scientific and industrial groups working in the Ukraine, discussed the latest achievements in physics, chemistry and application of liquid crystals.     

NMR Spectral Patterns in Magneto-Aligned Biaxial Liquid Crystals

Unique NMR spectral patterns can be obtained from biaxially ordered smectic phases where only one of the principal axes of the time averaged nuclear spin interaction is aligned by the magnetic field. It is shown how the asymmetry parameter of the interaction can be obtained directly from edge singularities in these patterns.     

2H-NMR Spectral Patterns in Magneto-Aligned Smectic E and G Phases

Unique ²H-NMR spectral patterns can be obtained from biaxially ordered smectic E and G phases, where only one director of the phase is aligned by the magnetic field. Two effects on the shape of the deuterium spectral pattern are demonstrated: (1) The effect of a motionally induced asymmetry parameter in the time averaged deuterium quadrupole interaction, and (2) the effect when the principal z-axis of the time averaged interaction is not parallel to the aligned director. Spectral patterns for the S_G phase of the compound 4-n-pentoxybenzylidene-4-n'-heptylaniline selectively deuterated on one of the aromatic rings (50.7-d ₄) were obtained for both unaligned and magneto-aligned samples. Both of these spectral patterns were consistent with that expected for an asymmetry parameter, n < 0.2. Spectral patterns in the S_G phase of the compound 50.6 (24.7 wt.%) + 90.4-αd ₂-γd ₂ (75.3 wt.%) were studied showing a different behavior with respect to the spectral patterns obtained in 50.7. We believe that a shift in the orientation of the z principal axis relative to the sample c axis has occurred in this S_G phase. Spectral patterns were also recorded for the S_E phase in magneto-aligned samples of the mixture of compounds 4-cyano-4'-octyloxybiphenyl (80CB) with 50 wt.% 40.8-d ₄. These data also show a small asymmetry parameter but, in addition, a distribution in the orientation of the principal z-axis indicating that the time scale of the motion of the long molecular axis is in a regime where it is of the order of the ²H-NMR measurement. Models for the smectic E and G phases based on these observations are discussed.     

Anisotropic contribution of magnetostriction to the elastic compliance constants in hexagonal materials: The Δs-effect

In this paper, we consider the single crystal analogue of the ΔE-effect in hexagonal materials with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. We define Δs_ijld as the fractional change in the elastic compliance tensor s_ijkl in the demagnetized state relative to its value in the saturated state. The Δs-effect depends in general on the direction of the applied stress and the resulting magnetostrictive strain. We can show, however, that Δs_ijkl is always nonnegative when i=k and j=l. We then consider the measurements of the elastic constants in magnetic materials which have large magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The stresses applied in these measurements are not sufficient to rotate the magnetization away from the magnetically preferred direction, and hence cause no magnetostriction, and no Δs-effect. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply a saturating magnetic field along the easy axis in order to measure the true elastic constants in these materials.     

Compact HE11 to surface wave converters for high power waveguide dummy loads

The HE₁₁ mode in corrugated circular waveguide can be converted to the EH₁₁ mode (surface wave) by a short, smooth-waveguide phase shift section followed by a short corrugation depth taper. Low-power measurements at 110 GHz in 1.25 in. aluminum waveguide demonstrated approximately 99% conversion with the proper phase shift length. As expected, the conversion efficiency versus length of the phase shifter varied periodically with the period of the TE₁₁ to TM₁₁ beat wavelength. Since the EH₁₁ surface wave is highly attenuated, this type of converter can be used effectively in a compact high-power dummy load.     

Observation and Photophysical Characterization of Silicon Phthalocyanine J‐Aggregate Dimers in Aqueous Solutions

The use of macrocyclic molecules for both imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has proven to be a powerful method for assessing and treating diseases, respectively. However, many potential candidates for these applications rely on rigid organic structures which are hydrophobic and thus lead to possible aggregation in aqueous solutions such as blood. Here, we describe the discovery of noncovalent J‐aggregate dimers of the asymmetrically, axially modified silicon phthalocyanine 4 (Pc 4) in aqueous solutions through steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy. Remarkably, the monomer–dimer equilibrium is dictated by water content and pH, with free monomers resulting in favorable solvation conditions even after formation of the dimer complex. This work sheds light on previous observations of Pc 4 behavior in cells during PDT, and can further elucidate the structure–activity relationship of these important molecules.     

PDLC shutters: where has this technology gone?

A Commentary on the paper ”Response times and voltages for PDLC shutters?, by Bao‐Gang Wu, John H. Erdman and J. William Doane. First published in Liquid Crystals, 5, 1453‐1465 (1989).