Open AccessDomain structures as optical gratings controlled by electric field in a bent-core nematic
Author(s) -
Ming-Ya Xu,
Mengjie Zhou,
Ying Xiang,
Péter Szűcs,
Nándor Éber,
Ágnes Buka
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.015224
Subject(s) - optics , liquid crystal , polarization (electrochemistry) , electric field , bent molecular geometry , wavelength , diffraction , materials science , grating , diffraction grating , perpendicular , diffraction efficiency , ray , voltage , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , composite material
A regular domain structure consisting of parallel stripes - flexodomains - have been induced by low frequency (subHz) electric voltage in a bent core nematic liquid crystal. The wavelength of the pattern is in the range of 1-10 micrometers and thus can conveniently be observed in a polarizing microscope. It also serves as an optical grating and produces a regular system of laser diffraction spots. The pattern was found to emerge and disappear consecutively in each half period of the driving, with the wavelength of the flexodomains changing periodically as the ac voltage oscillates. Analyzing the polarization characteristics of the diffracted light, the polarization of the first order spot was found perpendicular to that of the incident light, in accordance with a recent theoretical calculation.