Transient responses of liquid crystals for optical switching with microseconds: nanoseconds response speed

Abstract

A critical analysis of various nonlinear mechanisms such as laser induced thermal/order parameter changes and flow orientation effects in nematic liquid crystal is presented, along with feasibility demonstrations of all-optical switching and optical image processing and tunable photonics using these mechanisms. The merits and limitation of nematics are discussed together with some preliminary results with Blue Phase liquid crystals that could circumvent some of the limitations.