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Optical bistability near the optical Freedericksz transition

Fernand D. S. Marquis, Pierre Meystre

Published Apr 26, 1987• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Abstract We discuss dispersive optical bistability near the intrinsic second-order-type optical Freedericksz transition in a nematic liquid crystal. The combined effects of this intrinsic transition and of the first-order-type phase transition imposed by the feedback mechanism, here a Fabry-Perot resonator, leads to novel effects absent from conventional bistable system.

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The properties of intrinsic optical bistability in nematic liquid crystals were studied. This kind of optical bistability is without resonant optical cavity and electric feedback. We find that the nematic ROTN-200 film can exhibit bistability when applying a constant ac electric field (≊560 kHz) that is greater than a tricritical voltage VTc=2.614 V. The bistable interval is measured and the hysteresis loop is characterized at each different voltage. The splay and bent elastic constants k11 and k33 are obtained to calculate the numerical result. It is found that the experimental results are in good agreement with theory. The experimental setup with which we can easily observe the bistable phenomena is illustrated. Under the consideration of the finite size of the laser beam, the thermal effect and finite beam size effect are discussed. In addition, some new interesting phenomena about the diffraction ring structure of nematic liquid crystal are reported.

Journal of Applied Physics•Aug 1, 1989•16 citations
Abstract We discuss dispersive optical bistability near the intrinsic second-order-type optical Freedericksz transition in a nematic liquid crystal. The combined effects of this intrinsic transition and of the first-order-type phase transition imposed by the feedback mechanism, here a Fabry-Perot resonator, leads to novel effects absent from conventional bistable system.
Several configurations for the optical bistability of a nematic liquid crystal in a nonresonant cavity are investigated. These bistabilities result from optical feedback and occur below the Freedericksz transition. An electric-field-induced optical switching with hysteresis is observed as well. Photorefractive two-wave mixing in a KNbO3 crystal is used for amplification of the feedback beam, leading to an optical hysteresis with the pump beam of the photorefractive amplifier as the control beam. In this configuration competition between two beams injected into the nonresonant cavity (optical thresholding) is demonstrated: The stronger beam is identified and discriminated from the weaker one by bistable switching.
The properties of intrinsic optical bistability in nematic liquid crystals were studied. This kind of optical bistability is without resonant optical cavity and electric feedback. We find that the nematic ROTN-200 film can exhibit bistability when applying a constant ac electric field (≊560 kHz) that is greater than a tricritical voltage VTc=2.614 V. The bistable interval is measured and the hysteresis loop is characterized at each different voltage. The splay and bent elastic constants k11 and k33 are obtained to calculate the numerical result. It is found that the experimental results are in good agreement with theory. The experimental setup with which we can easily observe the bistable phenomena is illustrated. Under the consideration of the finite size of the laser beam, the thermal effect and finite beam size effect are discussed. In addition, some new interesting phenomena about the diffraction ring structure of nematic liquid crystal are reported.