| Abstract: | Abstract Effects of electric fields on monomer liquid crystals (MLCs) and polymer liquid crystals (PLCs) are analyzed, dealing separately with nematic and cholesteric PLCs. Electro-hydrodynamic instabilities affect the behavior of these systems. Thermooptical recording depends on the magnitude of the thermooptical effects. Information recording can be alternatively performed on the basis of photoorientation and the photoinduced birefringence. Capabilities and limitations of these techniques are pointed out. |
