Random lasing in a bistable smectic A liquid crystal

S. M. Morris; A. D. Ford; D. J. Gardiner; H. J. Coles

doi:10.1117/12.723347

9 May 2007 Random lasing in a bistable smectic A liquid crystal

S. M. Morris, A. D. Ford, D. J. Gardiner, H. J. Coles

Proceedings Volume 6587, Liquid Crystals and Applications in Optics; 65870Q (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723347
Event: International Congress on Optics and Optoelectronics, 2007, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

In this work, we examine the phenomenon of random lasing from the smectic A liquid crystal phase. We summarise our results to date on random lasing from the smectic A phase including the ability to control the output from the sample using applied electric fields. In addition, diffuse random lasing is demonstrated from the electrohydrodynamic instabilities of a smectic A liquid crystal phase that has been doped with a low concentration of ionic impurities. Using a siloxane-based liquid crystal doped with ionic impurities and a laser dye, nonresonant random laser emission is observed from the highly scattering texture of the smectic A phase which is stable in zero-field. With the application of a low frequency alternating current electric field, turbulence is induced due to motion of the ions. This is accompanied by a decrease in the emission linewidth and an increase in the intensity of the laser emission. The benefit in this case is that a field is not required to maintain the texture as the scattering and homeotropic states are both stable in zero field. This offers a lower power consumption alternative to the electric-field induced static scattering sample.

Citation Download Citation

S. M. Morris, A. D. Ford, D. J. Gardiner, and H. J. Coles "Random lasing in a bistable smectic A liquid crystal", Proc. SPIE 6587, Liquid Crystals and Applications in Optics, 65870Q (9 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723347

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KEYWORDS

Scattering

Random lasers

Laser scattering

Liquid crystals

Light scattering

Dielectrics

Laser damage threshold

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