Title :
A new photoelectric reorientation effect for the realization of highly sensitive photorefraction in liquid crystals
Author :
Macdonald, R. ; Meindl, P.
Author_Institution :
Opt. Inst., Tech. Univ. Berlin, Germany
Abstract :
The present investigations concern a new molecular reorientation effect in nematic liquid crystals consisting of discotic molecules. The effect occurs under the combined application of DC-electrical fields and low power optical waves and has a very huge photosensitivity. An illumination with intensities as low as 10-5 W/cm2 is sufficient for a strong photo-induced reorientation process which indicates a rather large nonlinear optical coefficient
Keywords :
birefringence; electro-optical effects; molecular reorientation; nematic liquid crystals; nonlinear optics; photorefractive materials; DC-electrical fields; discotic molecules; highly sensitive photorefraction; illumination; large nonlinear optical coefficient; liquid crystals; low power optical waves; molecular reorientation effect; nematic liquid crystals; photoelectric reorientation effect; strong photo-induced reorientation process; very huge photosensitivity; Argon; Birefringence; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Lighting; Liquid crystals; Nonlinear optics; Optical films; Optical sensors; Photorefractive effect;
Conference_Titel :
Nonlinear Optics '98: Materials, Fundamentals and Applications Topical Meeting
Conference_Location :
Kauai, HI
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4950-4
DOI :
10.1109/NLO.1998.710193
