30 to 50 ns liquid-crystal optical switches

M. W. Geis; R. J. Molnar; G. W. Turner; T. M. Lyszczarz; R. M. Osgood; B. R. Kimball

doi:10.1117/12.840281

12 February 2010 30 to 50 ns liquid-crystal optical switches

M. W. Geis, R. J. Molnar, G. W. Turner, T. M. Lyszczarz, R. M. Osgood, B. R. Kimball

Proceedings Volume 7618, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies V; 76180J (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.840281
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The optical switching times of liquid-crystal cells using 5CB, 5OCB and PCH5 liquid crystal materials have been characterized as a function of applied voltage, V, and temperature, T. The transition time from 90 to 10 % transmission scales as V^-2 and is limited to 50 to 30 ns by the breakdown electric field, ~ 10⁶ V cm^-1 of the liquid crystal. The time from the initial voltage step to 90 % transmission, delay time, decreases with increasing voltage and approaches a constant value at higher electric fields, >10⁵ V cm^-1. Both the transition and delay times decrease with increasing temperature. The minimum transition times at temperatures a few degrees below the nematic-isotropic temperature are 32, 32, and 44 ns and delay times are 44, 25 and 8 ns for 5CB, 5OCB, and PCH5 respectively.

Citation Download Citation

M. W. Geis, R. J. Molnar, G. W. Turner, T. M. Lyszczarz, R. M. Osgood, and B. R. Kimball "30 to 50 ns liquid-crystal optical switches", Proc. SPIE 7618, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies V, 76180J (12 February 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.840281

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