Chiral photonic crystals with an electrically tunable anisotropic defect. Experiment and theory

The possibility of inducing a planar defect in a plane structure of a cholesteric liquid crystal by an external electric field is demonstrated experimentally for the first time. The results of experimental and theoretical study of the behavior of the coefficient of reflection (transmission) of light from a layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal with a planar defect induced in it are considered. Possible applications of such a system are considered.