Optically generated reconfigurable photonic structures of elastic quasiparticles in frustrated cholesteric liquid crystals

Opt Express. 2012 Mar 26;20(7):6870-80. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.006870.

Abstract

We describe laser-induced two-dimensional periodic photonic structures formed by localized particle-like excitations in an untwisted confined cholesteric liquid crystal. The individual particle-like excitations (dubbed "Torons") contain three-dimensional twist of the liquid crystal director matched to the uniform background director field by topological point defects. Using both single-beam-steering and holographic pattern generation approaches, the periodic crystal lattices are tailored by tuning their periodicity, reorienting their crystallographic axes, and introducing defects. Moreover, these lattices can be dynamically reconfigurable: generated, modified, erased and then recreated, depending on the needs of a particular photonic application. This robust control is performed by tightly focused laser beams of power 10-100 mW and by low-frequency electric fields at voltages ~10 V applied to the transparent electrodes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Elastic Modulus
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lasers*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*