We demonstrate experimentally that diffraction of light incident obliquely at the oblique helicoidal cholesteric (ChOH) structure results in scattering at both the half- (P/2) and the full pitch (P) periodicities. Transmission spectra at P and P/2 are observed in the Vis spectral range, tunable by the electric field and the angle of light incidence. Diffraction at P/2 shows two distinct spectral bands for p- and s-polarized incident light. Diffraction at P is a single wide band. Unique optical properties of ChOH are attractive for applications such as electrically tunable band-pass filters, optical rotators, and beam-steering devices.
An oblique helicoidal cholesteric ChOH represents a unique optical material with a pitch that can be tuned by an electric or magnetic field in a broad range from sub micrometers to micrometers. In this work, we demonstrate that the oblique helicoidal cholesteric doped with azoxybenzene molecules and stabilized by an electric field could also be tuned by light irradiation. At a fixed voltage, UV irradiation causes a redshift of the reflection peak by more than 200 nm. The demonstrated effect has the potential for applications such as smart windows, sensors, tunable lasers, and filters.
Liquid crystal materials with tendency to bend are capable of forming a unique type of a helicoidal structure in which the director is titled with respect to the helicoidal axis rather than orthogonal to it, as in regular cholecterics. The new state occurs in presence of an electric or magnetic field. It is called a cholesteric with oblique helicoidal structure or simply a twist-bend cholesteric, since both twist and bend deformations are characteristic of the ground state supported by the external field. Tilted configuration of the director and absence of density modulation makes the twist-bend cholesterics a unique material for various electro-optical applications. The presentation discusses electrically and magnetically tuned selective reflection of light as well as tunable lasing enabled by these materials. It is demonstrated that the electro-optical performance of the twist-bend cholesterics depends strongly on the type of anchoring conditions imposed by the boundaries of the cell. The work is supported by NSF grant DMR-1410378.
Transport of fluids and particles at the microscale is an important theme both in fundamental and applied science. We demonstrate how an advanced approach to photo-induced alignment of liquid crystals can be used to generate nonlinear electrokinetics. The photoalignment technique is based on irradiation of a photosensitive substrate with light through nanoaperture arrays in metal films. The resulting pattern of surface alignment induces predesigned 2D and 3D distortions of local molecular orientation. In presence of a static electric field, these distortions generate spatial charge and drive electrokinetic flows of the new type, in which the velocities depend on the square of the applied electric field. The patterned liquid crystal electrolyte converts the electric energy into the flows and transport of embedded particles of any type (fluid, solid, gaseous) along a predesigned trajectory, posing no limitation on the electric nature (charge, polarizability) of these particles and interfaces. The patterned liquid crystal electrolyte induces persistent vortices of controllable rotation speed and direction that are quintessential for micro- and nanoscale mixing applications.
Cholesteric liquid crystals with helicoidal molecular architecture are known for their ability to selectively reflect light with the wavelength that is determined by the periodicity of molecular orientations. Resulting interference colors are highly saturated, they add like colored lights and produce a color gamut greater than that obtained with inks, dyes, and pigments. The periodicity of the helical structure and thus the wavelength of the reflected light can be controlled by chemical composition and sometimes by temperature, but tuning with the electric field has been so far elusive. Here we demonstrate that by using a cholesteric with oblique helicoidal (heliconical) structure, as opposed to the classic “right-angle” helicoid, one can vary the wavelength of selectively reflected light in a broad spectral range, by simply adjusting the electric field applied parallel to the helicoidal axis. The effect can enable many applications that require dynamically controlled transmission and reflection of light, from energy-saving smart windows to tunable organic lasers, and transparent “see-through” displays. Since the material is non-absorbing and transparent everywhere except the electrically preselected reflection band, the effect can be used in creating multilayered structures with a dynamic additive mixture of colors.
We demonstrate nanosecond electro-optic switching in the nematic and isotropic phases of two nematic materials, one with a negative dielectric anisotropy (HNG715600-100) and another with a positive dielectric anisotropy (8CB). In both cases, the effect is caused by the nanosecond electric modification of the order parameter (NEMOP). In NEMOP effect, the electric field is applied in such a way that the director alignment is not distorted. The NEMOP effects in the nematic phases are compared to the Kerr effects of the isotropic phases of the same two materials. Although the amplitudes of NEMOP and Kerr effects are comparable, we observe differences in temperature dependencies. We also observe that the field-induced Kerr birefringence in the isotropic phases does not follow the expected quadratic dependence on the applied field. Namely, it grows slower in the dielectrically negative material and faster in the dielectrically positive material.
Electrically induced reorientation of liquid crystal (LC) director caused by dielectric anisotropy is a fundamental phenomenon widely used in modern technologies. We demonstrate an electrooptic effect in a chiral nematic LC with a distinct oblique-helicoidal director deformation. The effect, predicted theoretically in late 1960-ies, is observed in a chiral nematic (cholesteric) in which the ground field-free state of the director is a right-angle helicoid. In the electric field, the director forms an oblique helicoid with the pitch and cone angle controlled by the field. The effect is observed in a dimer nematic material in which the bend elastic constant is much smaller than its twist counterpart. The heliconical structure can be used in two different geometries of a sandwich-type cell, with the axis of the oblique helicoid being either parallel or perpendicular to the bounding plates. In the first case, the structure can be used as tunable diffraction grating controlled by the in-plane electric field. In the second case, the structure represents an optical Bragg reflector in which the wavelength of reflected light is controlled in a broad spectral range (from ultraviolet to infrared and beyond, depending on the composition) by a top-down electric field; it can find applications in reflective displays, tunable color filters and lasers.
Recent experimental and theoretical results that link the phenomenon of dielectric relaxation in nematic liquid
crystals (NLCs) to their dynamics and fast electro-optical switching are presented. Namely, we illustrate that the
dielectric torque acting on the uniaxial nematic liquid crystal depends not only on the present value of the field and
the present orientation of the director, but also on the prehistory of these two parameters. The resulting "dielectric
memory" effect leads to a spectacular but counter-intuitive effect: director relaxation during the "switch-off" stage
can be accelerated if instead of the abrupt vertical back edge, one uses a voltage pulse with a non-instantaneously
vanishing back edge. The acceleration effect can be enhanced with a short high voltage pulse at the end of the
"switch on" process.
The dielectric dispersion in uniaxial nematic liquid crystals creates a "dielectric memory" effect whereby
the polarization induced by the electric field decays exponentially with time rather than instantaneously, as in
materials without dispersion. The induced polarization couples linearly with the electric field. This linear coupling
allows one to accelerate the director relaxation towards the "off" state by a specially designed electric pulse of a
proper polarity and duration We show theoretically and experimentally the possibility of electrically driving the
director towards the off state, thereby decreasing the switching time.
We developed a broad band achromatic linear polarization switch for visible and near infrared radiation. The achromatic switch is based on a twisted nematic cell filled with a dual-frequency nematic material. The switch is capable of fast switching linearly polarized light between two orthogonal directions with a switching time in the millisecond range.
In order to develop a fine angular beam steering technique (milliradian and less), we propose a nematic liquid crystal cell with a continuous gradient of the refractive index. This continuous gradient is controlled by applying the driving voltage to non-patterned indium-tin oxide electrodes. We employed the dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal in the cell with high pretilt alignment. The experiments with dual-frequency nematic confirmed that non-patterned electrically controlled nematic cell with the continuous gradient of refractive index is capable of angular beam steering in the milliradian range.
We demonstrate a fast optical modulator capable of switching large amount of optical retardation (a few microns) in less than 1 ms. The result is achieved by employing a dual frequency nematic in cells with high pre-tile alignment and by providing a special addressing scheme that features amplitude and frequency modulated voltage. We explore the effect of time delay and dielectric heating in process of the optical retardation switching.
Electrically-controlled diffractive gratings are developed on the basis of cholesteric liquid crystal confined between two transparent non-patterned electrodes. The electrodes are coated with alignment layers providing either planar or homeotropic anchoring. For planar alignment the applied electric field causes reorientation of initial (zero field) planar state and creates 1D modulated structures in the plane of the cell. The modulations occur via two distinct scenarios: (1) nucleation and expansion of `stripes' and (2) undulation of quasinematic layers in the plane normal to the cell's plates. the process (2) is faster since it does not require overcoming an energy barrier. In cells with homeotropic surface alignment modulated structures exist without applied voltage. Magnetic field is used to provide uniform orientation of these structures. Confocal microscope studies and 2D computer simulations are carried out to reveal the fine structure of the diffractive gratings.
Electrically-controlled diffraction gratings are developed on the basis of a cholesteric liquid crystal confined between two transparent electrodes. The electrodes are coated with unidirectionally treated alignment layers. The initial state is planar, with the helix axis oriented normally to the electrodes. The applied field causes reorientation of molecules and creates structures modulated in the plane of the cell. Surface alignment provides unidirectional uniformity of the modulation. The parameters of the modulated structures and light diffraction are controlled by the cholesteric pitch, cell thickness and applied voltages. Diffraction regimes of both Raman-Nath and Bragg types are demonstrated. In the Raman-Nath regime, the electric field allows one to control continuously the deflection angle by changing the periodicity of modulations. This effect can be used in various beam steering devices. The variation in the diffracted beam direction can be more than 20 degrees. Typical working voltages are less than 10V. We present both the experimental results and 3D computer simulations of modulated structures caused by the field.
Electrically controlled diffractive gratings are developed on the basis of cholesteric liquid crystal confined between two transparent electrodes. The electrodes are coated with unidirectionally treated alignment layers. The initial state is planar, with helix axis oriented normally to the electrodes. The applied field causes reorientation of molecules and creates structures modulated in the plane of the cell. Surface alignment provides unidirectional uniformity of the modulation. The parameters of the modulated structures and light diffraction are controlled by the cholesteric pitch, cell thickness and applied voltages. In the device of the first type, the modulated state produces Raman-Nath (RN) diffraction and allows a the modulated structure depends on the applied field. Diffraction regimes of both RN and Bragg types are demonstrated for this geometry. In the RN regime, the electric field allows one to control continuously the deflection angle. This effect can be used in various beam steering devices. The variation in the diffracted beam direction is more than 15 degrees. Typical working voltages are less than 10V. We present both the experimental results and 3D computer simulations of modulated structures caused by the field.
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