Photorefractivity in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Gary P. Wiederrecht; Michael R. Wasielewski; Michael J. Fuller

doi:10.1117/12.406473

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13 November 2000 Photorefractivity in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Gary P. Wiederrecht, Michael R. Wasielewski, Michael J. Fuller

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Proceedings Volume 4104, Organic Photorefractives, Photoreceptors, and Nanocomposites; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406473
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The first observation of photorefractivity in ferroelectric liquid crystals (flcs) is reported. The flcs are doped with the easily oxidized chromophore perylene, which also functions as the sensitizer. The electron acceptor di-buty1-pyromellitimide is added to induce photoconductivity through an efficient intermolecular electron transfer reaction to produce mobile ions. A strong dependence on the orientation of the wavevector of the optical interference pattern and polarization of the writing beams relative to the orientation of the lfc molecules is observed. The results are interpreted as an orientational photorefractive effect in which the net polarization of the flc couples linearly to the space-charge field as opposed to nematic liquid crystals in which the dielectric anisotrophy couples to the square of the space charge field.

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Gary P. Wiederrecht, Michael R. Wasielewski, and Michael J. Fuller "Photorefractivity in ferroelectric liquid crystals", Proc. SPIE 4104, Organic Photorefractives, Photoreceptors, and Nanocomposites, (13 November 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406473

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