Electro-optic response and switchable Bragg diffraction for liquid crystals in colloid-templated materials

P. Mach; P. Wiltzius; M. Megens; D. A. Weitz; Keng-hui Lin; T. C. Lubensky; A. G. Yodh

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.65.031720

Electro-optic response and switchable Bragg diffraction for liquid crystals in colloid-templated materials

P. Mach, P. Wiltzius, M. Megens, D. A. Weitz, Keng-hui Lin, T. C. Lubensky, and A. G. Yodh

Phys. Rev. E 65, 031720 – Published 6 March 2002

Abstract

We report optical switching studies on nematic liquid crystal incorporated into structures based on self-assembled colloids. We compare the electro-optic responses of liquid crystal imbibed into colloid-templated polymers, liquid crystal imbibed in the interstitial space of colloid crystals, and conventional polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. We characterize the Bragg diffraction of our templated liquid-crystal/polymer composites as a function of electric field and measure switching times. The response of liquid crystal in connected networks differs qualitatively from that of liquid crystal in isolated cavities.

Received 6 July 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.65.031720

Authors & Affiliations

P. Mach^1,2,*, P. Wiltzius², M. Megens², D. A. Weitz³, Keng-hui Lin¹, T. C. Lubensky¹, and A. G. Yodh¹

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6396
²Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
³Physics Department and DEAS, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

^*Corresponding author. Email address: petermach@lucent.com

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Vol. 65, Iss. 3 — March 2002

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Physical Review E

covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics