Optical-Field-Induced Birefringence and Freedericksz Transition in a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Durbin, Stephen D.; Аракелян, С. М.; Shen, Y. R.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.47.1411

Cited by 313 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The presented model allows one to understand polarizationdependent anisotropic trapping in anisotropic fluids at laser powers that do not reorient N (20,32). Further model improvement would require using the actual field distribution of the focused beam (31), calculating director structures for finite surface anchoring and anisotropic elasticity (3), as well as taking into account scattering forces (2), light defocusing͞depolariza-tion effects in birefringent media (21), and induced director distortions at high laser powers (20,32). Our results impinge on laser tweezers studies of anisotropic materials such as measurements of viscosity coefficients and interaction forces.…”

Section: [3]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser trapping in anisotropic fluids and polarization-controlled particle dynamics

Smalyukh

Kachynski

Kuzmin

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Anisotropic fluids are widespread, ranging from liquid crystals used in displays to ordered states of a biological cell interior. Optical trapping is potentially a powerful technique in the fundamental studies and applications of anisotropic fluids. We demonstrate that laser beams in these fluids can generate anisotropic optical trapping forces, even for particles larger than the trapping beam wavelength. Immersed colloidal particles modify the fluid's ordered molecular structures and locally distort its optic axis. This distortion produces a refractive index ''corona'' around the particles that depends on their surface characteristics. The laser beam can trap such particles not only at their center but also at the high-index corona. Trapping forces in the beam's lateral plane mimic the corona and are polarizationcontrolled. This control allows the optical forces to be reversed and cause the particle to follow a prescribed trajectory. Anisotropic particle dynamics in the trap varies with laser power because of the anisotropy of both viscous drag and trapping forces. Using thermotropic liquid crystals and biological materials, we show that these phenomena are quite general for all anisotropic fluids and impinge broadly on their quantitative studies using laser tweezers. Potential applications include modeling thermodynamic systems with anisotropic polarization-controlled potential wells, producing optically tunable photonic crystals, and fabricating light-controlled nano-and micropumps.colloids ͉ laser tweezers ͉ liquid crystals ͉ optical trapping ͉ defects

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Section: [3]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser trapping in anisotropic fluids and polarization-controlled particle dynamics

Smalyukh

Kachynski

Kuzmin

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…elastic nonlinearity and limited detecting sensitivity are certainly neither only, nor even principal reasons of observed threshold effect, but probably accompanying contributing additives. More essential contribution seem to be thermal fluctuations 5 . However elastic nonlinearity may be generally substantial in LC-reorientation process in view of its bistability and dynamics.…”

Section: Results Discussion and Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liquid crystals (LCs), since their discovery in 1888, have been utilized in extensive applications with regard to optical effects they reveal, especially in optics and optoelectronics [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Theoretical description of effects observed in LCs was formulated in linear optics first; nonlinear phenomena were later modeled with support of previously developed theory of corresponding electro-optical effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible limitations of the classical model of orientational optical nonlinearity in nematics

Sierakowski¹,

Teterycz²

2008

Open Physics

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Abstract:Orientational nonlinearity is the major mechanism of nonlinear optical phenomena observed in liquidcrystalline phase while it does not appear to such extent in any other materials. It is caused by distortion of initial molecular arrangement of an anisotropic medium induced by optical field. Deformation of the anisotropic structure means spatial changes of refractive index of the medium. This effect has been studied in earnest since the 1980s as its application became more apparent. In this paper, some results of experimental examination of molecular reorientation in nematics by optical field are presented, which are not explained in frame of existing Oseen-Frank model and Erickson -Leslie continuous theory. Possible reasons of this discordance are considered and a way of explanation is suggested. PACS (2008):42.65.Jx, 42.70.Df

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“…The giant optical nonlinearity of nematic liquid crystals (NLC) was discovered in 1980 almost simultaneously by three groups [3,4,5]. The simplest way to observe the effects of this nonlinearity is to perform the experiment sketched in the following figure.…”

Section: The Optical Nonlinearity Of Transparent Nematic Liquid Crystalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of giant optical nonlinearity in light-absorbing liquid crystals: a brief primer

Marrucci¹

2002

Liquid Crystals Today

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Optical-Field-Induced Birefringence and Freedericksz Transition in a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Cited by 313 publications

References 15 publications

Laser trapping in anisotropic fluids and polarization-controlled particle dynamics

Laser trapping in anisotropic fluids and polarization-controlled particle dynamics

Possible limitations of the classical model of orientational optical nonlinearity in nematics

Mechanisms of giant optical nonlinearity in light-absorbing liquid crystals: a brief primer

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