Optimization of liquid crystal structures for real time holography applications

In this paper we present results of experiments designed to increase our understanding of the photorefractive effect occurring during processes of dynamic hologram generation in Hybrid Photorefractive Liquid Crystal Structures (HPLCS). We also propose equivalent mathematical model which can be used to optimize those structures in order to obtain the highest diffraction efficiency in possibly shortest time. (C) 2011 Optical Society of Americ

Influence of temperature on dynamics of birefringence switching in photochromic nematic phase

We present results of dynamic and fast switching of birefringence in a photochromic liquid-crystalline system as a function of the sample temperature. The system consists of photochromic molecules of 4-heptyl-4-methoxyazobenzene showing a liquid-crystalline nematic state close to room temperature. An experiment of dynamic birefringence switching was done in optical Kerr-effect set-up, where for the sample excitation, a picosecond-pulsed laser was used. Measurements were done for different temperatures of the sample in the liquid-crystalline nematic phase. We have proposed a mathematical model of dynamic, fast, and fully reversible birefringence changes. Theoretical estimations and experimental results have shown very good agreement. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3665123

Pulsed laser induced switching of birefringence in nematic phase of photochromic molecules

Fast and dynamic switching of liquid-crystalline photochromic system birefringence induced by pulsed laser has been observed. The system consisted of photochromic molecules of 4-heptyl-4-methoxyazobenzene showing liquid-crystalline nematic state close to the room temperature. Experiment of dynamic birefringence switching was done in optical Kerr effect (OKE) set-up, where for the sample excitation picosecond pulsed laser was used. Simultaneously, He-Ne laser was served as a probe beam source. Measurements were done for different voltages applied to the sample. Rise time constant was in the range of microseconds. Full reversibility of the OKE signal was observed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3559613

Amplified spontaneous emission in the spiropyran-biopolymer based system

Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon in the 6-nitro-1′,3′,3′-trimethylspiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indolin] organic dye dispersed in a solid matrix has been observed. The biopolymer system deoxyribonucleic acid blended with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride served as a matrix. ASE appeared under sample excitation by UV light pulses (λ=355 nm) coming from nanosecond or picosecond neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers and has been reinforced with green (λ=532 nm) light excitation followed UV light pulse. The ASE characteristics in function of different excitation pulse energies as well as signal gain were measured

Biopolymer-based material for optical phase conjugation

We present results of optical phase conjugation experiments in modified DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - dye system. The system consisted of a biopolymeric matrix made of DNA blended with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA) and doped with a photochromic dye Disperse Red 1. Results were obtained in a typical degenerate four wave mixing experiment. For sample excitation we used linearly polarized light at a wavelength 514.5 nm, delivered by an argon ion (Ar+) laser. The phase conjugated signal which emerged from the sample had rise and fall time constants of a few milliseconds with an excellent reversibility

Preface for OPTMAT Special Volume: WOREN 2010

The First Polish – French Workshop on Organic Electronics and Nanophotonics, WOREN 2010, was held in Swieradow Zdroj close to Wroclaw (Poland), from January 31 to February 04, 2010. The workshop was organized jointly by the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Institute of Physics, Wroclaw University of Technology