Dynamic characteristics of dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal with quasi-homeotropic twist structure

Dynamic characteristics of a liquid crystal (LC) cell with a quasi-homeotropic twist structure formed in a dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal (DFNLC) layer with the director pretilt angle increased to 60° have been experimentally studied. The cell was switched from the off to on state using a 30-kHz electric field, while the reverse (off/on) switching was effected by a 1-kHz field. An increase in the director pretilt angle allowed the switch-on time of a 6.4-μm-thick DFNLC cell to be reduced to 1 ms and the relaxation (switch-off) time, to 0.5 ms.     

Characterization and control of a multielement dual-frequency liquid-crystal device for high-speed adaptive optical wave-front correction

Multielement nematic liquid-crystal devices have been used by others and ourselves for closed-loop adaptive control of optical wave-front distortions. Until recently the phase retardance of available devices could be controlled rapidly in only one direction. The phase retardance of the dual-frequency device can be controlled rapidly in both directions. Understanding the dynamics of the phase retardance change is critical to the development of a high-speed control algorithm. We describe measurements and experiments leading to the closed-loop control of a multielement dual-frequency liquid-crystal adaptive optic.     

Variable optical attenuator with a polymer-stabilized dual-frequency liquid crystal

A transmission-type variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on a polymer-stabilized dual-frequency liquid crystal (PSDFLC) is demonstrated at gamma = 1.55 microm. The VOA is highly transparent in the voltage-off state but scatters light in the voltage-on state. By using a birefringent beam displacer incorporated with half-wave plates, we can obtain a VOA that is polarization independent and that exhibits a 31 dB dynamic range. The polymer networks and dual-frequency effect together reduce the response time (rise + decay) of a 16 microm PSDFLC cell to 30 ms at room temperature and at a voltage of 24 Vrms.     

Optical transmission decay dynamics in dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal cells

We have experimentally studied the S-effect dynamics in a dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell. It is demonstrated that the optical transmission rise and decay times depend on the mode of control over the NLC director orientation in an applied electric field, including the rectangular (square-wave) dc voltage pulses and sinusoidal low-and high-frequency addressing schemes. It is established that the presence of a thin dielectric layer of amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) at the NLC boundary can decrease by an order of magnitude the transmission decay time under the action of a high-frequency voltage as compared to the case of natural elastic relaxation in a cell where only the rise time is controlled.     

Specific features of attenuated light transmission by liquid-crystal twist cells in constant and alternating electric fields

Optical transmission characteristics of dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal (NLC) twist cells with different alignment layers (rubbed polyimide and obliquely deposited cerium dioxide) have been studied in constant and alternating electric fields. It has been established that a change in the optical (twist effect) threshold and dynamic range of attenuated transmission depend both on the boundary conditions (that influence the screening of applied voltage) and on the parameters of the applied electric field. The maximum dynamic range (49.5 dB) has been obtained in the cell with a CeO₂ alignment layer controlled by a constant potential. In the case of an alternating electric field, the dynamic range decreases because of reduced effective voltage.     

Artificial muscles based on liquid crystal elastomers

This paper presents our results on liquid crystal (LC) elastomers as artificial muscle, based on the ideas proposed by de Gennes. In the theoretical model, the material consists of a repeated series of main-chain nematic LC polymer blocks, N, and conventional rubber blocks, R, based on the lamellar phase of a triblock copolymer RNR. The motor for the contraction is the reversible macromolecular shape change of the chain, from stretched to spherical, that occurs at the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in the main-chain nematic LC polymers.We first developed a new kind of muscle-like material based on a network of side-on nematic LC homopolymers. Side-on LC polymers were used instead of main-chain LC polymers for synthetic reasons. The first example of these materials was thermo-responsive, with a typical contraction of around 35-45% and a generated force of around 210 kPa. Subsequently, a photo-responsive material was developed, with a fast photochemically induced contraction of around 20%, triggered by UV light.We then succeeded in preparing a thermo-responsive artificial muscle, RNR, with lamellar structure, using a side-on nematic LC polymer as N block.Micrometre-sized artificial muscles were also prepared. This paper illustrates the bottom-up design of stimuli-responsive materials, in which the overall material response reflects the individual macromolecular response, using LC polymer as building block.     

对氟肉桂酸丙烯醇酯接枝聚硅氧烷的光致取向研究

采用一种简单的方法合成了一种新型的光致取向材料－对氟肉桂酸内烯醇酯接枝聚桂氧烷,通过线性偏振光聚合（LPP）的方法制备了聚同良好的液晶取向膜并研究了膜厚度,液晶材料,烘烤温度和时间,曝光强度和时间对取向的影响,结果表明这是一种热稳定性很好的高光敏取向材料。     

Image contrast in polarization microscopy of magneto-optical disk data-storage media through birefringent plastic substrates

Using polarized-light microscopy, we have investigated the magnetic domains of perpendicularly magnetized media under several different conditions, including direct observation of the thin-film magnetic layer and observations through the glass or plastic substrates on which the magnetic film was deposited. The results show that the image contrast is reduced with an increasing numerical aperture of the objective lens. They also indicate that the polarization rotation caused by differences between the reflectivity-transmissivity of the p and s components of polarization deteriorate the magnetic image contrast. Furthermore, by comparing the image quality using the same objective lens on samples having different substrates, we found that the images obtained through plastic substrates are worse than those obtained through glass substrates. Birefringence of the plastic substrate is shown to be responsible for the additional degradation of the image contrast.     

Electromechanically driven variable-focus lens based on transparent dielectric elastomer

Dielectric elastomers with low elastic stiffness and high dielectric constant are smart materials that produce large strains (up to 300%) and belong to the group of electroactive polymers. Dielectric elastomer actuators are made from films of dielectric elastomers coated on both sides with compliant electrode material. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), which is known as a transparent conducting polymer, has been widely used as an interfacial layer or polymer electrode in polymer electronic devices. In this study, we propose the transparent dielectric elastomer as a material of actuator driving variable-focus lens system using PEDOT as a transparent electrode. The variable-focus lens module has light transmittance up to 70% and maximum displacement up to 450. When voltage is applied to the fabricated lens module, optical focal length is changed. We anticipate our research to be a starting point for new model of variable-focus lens system. This system could find applications in portable devices, such as digital cameras, camcorder, and cell phones.     

Visual Appearance of Chiral Nematic Cellulose‐Based Photonic Films: Angular and Polarization Independent Color Response with a Twist

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a biocompatible cellulose derivative capable of self‐assembling into a lyotropic chiral nematic phase in aqueous solution. This liquid crystalline phase reflects right‐handed circular polarized light of a specific color as a function of the HPC weight fraction. Here, it is demonstrated that, by introducing a crosslinking agent, it is possible to drastically alter the visual appearance of the HPC mesophase in terms of the reflected color, the scattering distribution, and the polarization response, resulting in an exceptional matte appearance in solid‐state films. By exploiting the interplay between order and disorder, a robust and simple methodology toward the preparation of polarization and angular independent color is developed, which constitutes an important step toward the development of real‐world photonic colorants.     

van der Waals epitaxy of InAs nanowires vertically aligned on single-layer graphene

Semiconductor nanowire arrays integrated vertically on graphene films offer significant advantages for many sophisticated device applications. We report on van der Waals (VDW) epitaxy of InAs nanowires vertically aligned on graphene substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The strong correlation between the growth direction of InAs nanowires and surface roughness of graphene substrates was investigated using various graphene films with different numbers of stacked layers. Notably, vertically well-aligned InAs nanowire arrays were obtained easily on single-layer graphene substrates with sufficiently strong VDW attraction. This study presents a considerable advance toward the VDW heteroepitaxy of inorganic nanostructures on chemical vapor-deposited large-area graphenes. More importantly, this work demonstrates the thinnest epitaxial substrate material that yields vertical nanowire arrays by the VDW epitaxy method.     

Wollaston棱镜方位对激光干涉测量精度的影响

在双频激光干涉测量系统中,Ｗｏｌｌａｓｔｏｎ棱镜是不可缺少的重要光学元件,它可将双频激光按偏振方向分为测量光和参考光,从而实现高精度测量;但是,如果Ｗｏｌｌａｓｔｏｎ棱镜的安装方位相对入射光线方向以及与聚集透镜距离不同时,测量结果将会不同。本文结合表面粗糙度激光测量系统,从理论上定量分析了Ｗｏｌｌａｓｔｏｎ棱镜的安装方位对测量精度的影响。     

Ultrasmall microlens array based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

An ultrasmall tunable microlens with a diameter of 1.5 μm is fabricated using nematic liquid crystals (electrically tunable medium) and vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (CNFs, electrodes). Individual CNFs are grown at the center of circular dielectric regions. This allows the CNFs to produce a more Gaussian electric field profile and hence more uniformity in lens array switching.     

Metamorphic InAs/InGaAs/InAlAs quantum wells with submonolayer InSb insertions emitted in the mid-infrared spectral range

Metamorphic InAs/InGaAs/InAlAs quantum wells with submonolayer InSb insertions have been grown for the first time by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates using a graded InAlAs buffer layer with increasing In composition. The given nanoheterostructures demonstrate an intense photoluminescence at a wavelength of over of over 3 μm (80 K), which is shifted toward longer wavelengths as compared with that of the structures without InSb insertions.     

Optical Properties of Self‐Assembled Cellulose Nanocrystals Films Suspended at Planar–Symmetrical Interfaces

Hierarchically structured materials comprising rod‐like, chiral, nanoparticles are commonly encountered in nature as they can form assemblies with exceptional optical and mechanical characteristics. These include cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which have a large potential for the fabrication of bioinspired materials mimicking those advanced properties. Fine‐tuning the optomechanical properties of assemblies obtained from CNCs hinges on the transformations from suspensions of liquid crystals to long‐range order in the dry state. So far, associated transitions have been studied using trivial interfaces such as planar substrates. Such transitions are explored as they evolve onto meshed supports. The meshed substrate offers a complex topology, as is encountered in nature, for the formation of CNCs films. The CNCs self‐assembly occurs under confinement and support of the framework bounding the mesh openings. This leads to coexisting suspended and supported nanoparticle layers exhibiting nematic and/or chiral nematic order. Optical microscopy combined with crossed polarizers indicate that the formation of the suspended films occurs via intermediate gelation or kinetic arrest of CNCs across the mesh's open areas. The formation of self‐standing, ultrathin films of CNCs with tunable optical properties, such as selective reflections in the visible range (structural color), is demonstrated by using the presented simple and scalable approach.     

Site-Controlled Uniform Ge/Si Hut Wires with Electrically Tunable Spin–Orbit Coupling

Semiconductor nanowires have been playing a crucial role in the development of nanoscale devices for the realization of spin qubits, Majorana fermions, single photon emitters, nanoprocessors, etc. The monolithic growth of site-controlled nanowires is a prerequisite toward the next generation of devices that will require addressability and scalability. Here, combining top-down nanofabrication and bottom-up self-assembly, the growth of Ge wires on prepatterned Si (001) substrates with controllable position, distance, length, and structure is reported. This is achieved by a novel growth process that uses a SiGe strain-relaxation template and can be potentially generalized to other material combinations. Transport measurements show an electrically tunable spin–orbit coupling, with a spin–orbit length similar to that of III–V materials. Also, charge sensing between quantum dots in closely spaced wires is observed, which underlines their potential for the realization of advanced quantum devices. The reported results open a path toward scalable qubit devices using nanowires on silicon.     

Influence of the alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer thickness on the characteristics of electrically controlled optical modulators

The screening effect of the amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) alignment layer and its dependence on the thickness of a dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal (NLC) layer have been studied. Optimization of the a-C:H layer thickness allows a threshold voltage for the optical S-effect to be reduced and the characteristic switching time and relaxation time of 0.5 and 2.5 ms, respectively, to be obtained for a phase retardation of 2π at a wavelength of 0.86 μm.     

Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystal Doped with Magnetic Particles of Different Shapes in Combined Electric and Magnetic Fields

We have studied the influence of electric and magnetic fields on the orientational structure of ferronematics based on a thermotropic nematic 4-trans-4 \(^{\prime }\) -n-hexylcyclohexyl-isothiocyanato-benzene (6CHBT). The 6CHBT liquid crystal has been dissolved in phenyl isothiocyanate and doped with rod-like or chain-like magnetic particles. In such a mixture, the phase transition from an isotropic to a nematic phase is via a droplet state, i.e., coexistence of nematic and isotropic phases. The obtained results showed that a combination of the electric and magnetic fields can change the character of a phase transition from the isotropic to the nematic phase via the droplet state in such systems. Moreover, magneto-dielectric measurements of structural transitions showed the magnetic field induced a shift of the phase transition temperature from the isotropic to the droplet state.     

Millimeter wave sensor using cylindrical Luneberg lens with flatsides

The cylindrical lens with flat sides, which has the focal point just on the surface of the lens, is developed by using an artificial low-loss dielectric material, and the design of the lens is also given. The characteristics of the cylindrical lens fabricated in Teflon, and a millimeter-wave sensor, consisting of a millimeter-wave (MMW) antenna mounted at the focus, are also investigated at 40 GHz band. MMW sensors with the beam width of 16° and gain of 15.6 dB were obtained     

Spatially periodic deformation of a nematic liquid crystal caused by flows near a microcontact in an asymmetric cell

It has been experimentally established for the first time that a steady-state spatially periodic deformation of the director field with an electrically controlled period is formed near a microcontact in a homeotropically oriented 5CB nematic liquid crystal. The periodic distribution of the director is due to its orientation by counterpropagating flows of the nematic material and the wave-shaped profile of the boundary layer.