Azobenzene liquid crystals for fast reversible optical switching and enhanced sensitivity for visible wavelengths

Uladzimir Hrozhyk; Svetlana Serak; Nelson Tabiryan; Diane M. Steeves; Landa Hoke; Brian R. Kimball

doi:10.1117/12.827067

20 August 2009 Azobenzene liquid crystals for fast reversible optical switching and enhanced sensitivity for visible wavelengths

Uladzimir Hrozhyk, Svetlana Serak, Nelson Tabiryan, Diane M. Steeves, Landa Hoke, Brian R. Kimball

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7414, Liquid Crystals XIII; 74140L (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827067
Event: SPIE Photonic Devices + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We study optical switching properties of novel azobenzene liquid crystal (azo LC) material systems based on mesogenic azo dyes distinguished by enhanced absorption in the visible spectrum and a short lifetime of the photoexcited state. Due to their mesogenic nature these azo dyes can be doped at high concentrations in room temperature LCs. This permits one to obtain results using low energy density values required for observation of strong nonlinear optical processes and short spontaneous restoration times of their original state. A photoinduced nematic-isotropic phase transition could be induced with a single nanosecond pulse. Thin material layers of the order of radiation wavelength were used in the study.

Citation Download Citation

Uladzimir Hrozhyk, Svetlana Serak, Nelson Tabiryan, Diane M. Steeves, Landa Hoke, and Brian R. Kimball "Azobenzene liquid crystals for fast reversible optical switching and enhanced sensitivity for visible wavelengths", Proc. SPIE 7414, Liquid Crystals XIII, 74140L (20 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827067

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