High optical nonlinearity of azobenzene liquid crystals for short laser pulses

Uladzimir Hrozhyk; Svetlana Serak; Nelson Tabiryan; Landa Hoke; Diane M. Steeves; Gary Kedziora; Brian Kimball

doi:10.1117/12.794308

27 August 2008 High optical nonlinearity of azobenzene liquid crystals for short laser pulses

Uladzimir Hrozhyk, Svetlana Serak, Nelson Tabiryan, Landa Hoke, Diane M. Steeves, Gary Kedziora, Brian Kimball

Proceedings Volume 7050, Liquid Crystals XII; 705007 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794308
Event: Photonic Devices + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Azobenzene liquid crystals (azo LCs) have been proven to possess the highest optical nonlinearity, bounding with photosensitivity, for cw laser beams. We show here that azo LCs are highly nonlinear for short laser pulses as well. Single as well as multicomponent room temperature nematic azo LCs were used in this study for single nanosecond pulses of the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser. These compositions demonstrate sensitivity starting from ~ 10 mJ/cm² and exhibit response time at the nanosecond scale. The effect of material composition, layer thickness and pulse energy on the nonlinear response of a system of crossed polarizers comprising planar oriented LCs are reported.

Citation Download Citation

Uladzimir Hrozhyk, Svetlana Serak, Nelson Tabiryan, Landa Hoke, Diane M. Steeves, Gary Kedziora, and Brian Kimball "High optical nonlinearity of azobenzene liquid crystals for short laser pulses", Proc. SPIE 7050, Liquid Crystals XII, 705007 (27 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794308

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