Easily aligned deformable-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture and its use in devices

Michael D. Wand; Rohini T. Vohra; Michael J. O'Callaghan; Beth Roberts; Claus Escher

doi:10.1117/12.60386

15 June 1992 Easily aligned deformable-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture and its use in devices

Michael D. Wand, Rohini T. Vohra, Michael J. O'Callaghan, Beth Roberts, Claus Escher

Proceedings Volume 1665, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60386
Event: SPIE/IS&T 1992 Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1992, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Ferroelectric smectic C* liquid crystals have been shown to exhibit high speed, multistate electro-optic and display device applications, particularly when incorporated into the surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) light valve. The SSFLC geometry results in two distinct stable states. Unfortunately, the lack of intermediate electrically addressed states precludes a natural gray-scale effect. The recently discovered Deformed Helix Ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHFLC) effect opens the door to linear gray scale or linear phase modulation in a ferroelectric liquid crystal device on a microsecond time-scale. One drawback of currently available DHFLC materials is that their alignment quality is limited due to the lack of a nematic phase above their smectic A phase. While alignment can be improved by the use of shear techniques, this represents an undesirable option for a manufacturing process. We show that DHFLC mixtures can possess a nematic phase with a long N* pitch and tight C* pitch in the C* phase. These new easily aligned DHFLC mixtures are discussed as well as their use in beam-steering devices that can benefit from analog optical response.

Citation Download Citation

Michael D. Wand, Rohini T. Vohra, Michael J. O'Callaghan, Beth Roberts, and Claus Escher "Easily aligned deformable-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture and its use in devices", Proc. SPIE 1665, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications, (15 June 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60386

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available