We investigate a new ultrahighly sensitive nonlinear optical response in pure nematic liquid crystals composed of rodlike molecules characterized by conjugated acetylene groups. Under the combined application of low-intensity optical waves and dc electrical fields, a photorefractivelike grating formation has been found in degenerate four-wave mixing experiments. Polarization-dependent pump-probe experiments reveal the underlying orientational effect of a space-charge field. The photorefractive-like origin of the gratings was proved by two beam-coupling experiments in which a refractive-index grating was phase shifted by pi /2 with respect to the interference grating. The huge optical nonlinearity found in such materials makes them promising for future applications in all-optical image processing and adaptive optics.

Nonlocal dynamic gratings and energy transfer by optical two-beam coupling in a nematic liquid crystal owing to highly sensitive photoelectric reorientation

PAGLIUSI, Pasquale;CIPPARRONE G.;
2001-01-01

Abstract

We investigate a new ultrahighly sensitive nonlinear optical response in pure nematic liquid crystals composed of rodlike molecules characterized by conjugated acetylene groups. Under the combined application of low-intensity optical waves and dc electrical fields, a photorefractivelike grating formation has been found in degenerate four-wave mixing experiments. Polarization-dependent pump-probe experiments reveal the underlying orientational effect of a space-charge field. The photorefractive-like origin of the gratings was proved by two beam-coupling experiments in which a refractive-index grating was phase shifted by pi /2 with respect to the interference grating. The huge optical nonlinearity found in such materials makes them promising for future applications in all-optical image processing and adaptive optics.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
pr_JosaB2001.pdf

non disponibili

Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 225.91 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
225.91 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/154862
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 42
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 41
social impact