Dual-frequency field assembly of over mm-thick cholesteric liquid crystals for advanced photonic applications

I. C. Khoo, J. W. Chen, Tsung Hsien Lin, Ting Mao Feng

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We report a room-temperature dual-frequency field assembly technique that is capable of fabricating large-areal size (~cm2 or larger), well-aligned cholesteric liquid crystals to thicknesses up to 2.2 mm, corresponding to period number N (thickness/index grating period) of nearly10,000 in the visible spectral regime. The method employs successive application of low- and high- frequency electric field on a thick cell of CLC starting mixture containing a nematic constituent of negative anisotropy. The low-frequency field creates conductive hydrodynamical instabilities that mash the mixture to a state with completely randomized orientation of the cholesteric helices; the next application of a high-frequency field at a field strength below the dielectric hydrodynamic instability reorient all the helices into uniform standing helices. Such extraordinarily thick chiral photonic crystals exhibit many never-before-realized chiral photonic properties such as giant rotation of optical polarization with high transmission (low scattering loss), polarization switching and ultrafast pulse modulation capabilities for visible to mid-infrared lasers, in addition to dynamic tunability by electrical, thermal, or optical means.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLiquid Crystals XXVII
EditorsIam Choon Khoo
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510665309
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
EventLiquid Crystals XXVII 2023 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 21 2023Aug 22 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume12658
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceLiquid Crystals XXVII 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/21/238/22/23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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