N. Scaramuzza

Random lasing and weak localization of light in dye-doped nematic liquid crystals

The first observation of random laser action in a partially ordered, optically anisotropic nematic liquid crystal with long-range dielectric tensor fluctuations is reported. Above a given pump power the fluorescence curve collapses and the typical narrowing and explosion effect leads to discrete sharp peaks. The unexpected surviving of interference effects in recurrent multiple scattering provide the required optical feedback for lasing in nematics. Coherent backscattering of light waves in orientationally ordered nematic liquid crystals manifests a weak localization of light which strongly supports diffusive laser action in presence of gain medium. Intensity fluctuations of the speckle-like emission pattern indicate the typical spatio-temporal randomness of diffusive laser emission. A comparison of the laser action is reported for systems with different order degree: fully disordered semiconductor powders, self-ordered cholesterics and partially ordered nematic liquid crystals.

Investigation of flexoelectric properties of a palladium-containing nematic liquid crystal, Azpac, and its mixtures with MBBA

Abstract Flexoelectricity of pure Azpac (an HOAB-palladium complex) was studied using planar nematic layers under an in-plane electric field. Longitudinal domains were observed with a period inversely proportional to the applied d.c. electric field. These domains were considered as a first experiment manifestation of the theoretical prediction of R. B. Meyer (1969) and their study has permitted the evaluation of the difference in flexo-coefficientse 1z - e 3x. Their appearance can also be followed for the non-complexed HOAB, using instant video-microscopy frames. Mixtures of Azpac, up to 10wt%, and MBBA were oriented homeotropically and band flexoelectric deformations were observed, both in d.c. and in a.c. (1 to 1000 Hz) electric fields normal to the director. The dynamics of director reorientation were studied by the method of flexoelectric light modulation. A system comprising a He-Ne laser and a lock-in amplifier interfaced by a PC was developed. By operating this in a frequency sweep regime, viscoela...

Thermal behavior of random lasing in dye doped nematic liquid crystals

The role of the thermally modulated order parameter in the diffusive laser action observed in dye doped nematic liquid crystals was investigated. Above a given pump energy a randomly distributed series of bright tiny spots appear, giving rise to a strongly fluctuating emission pattern. The spectral analysis reveals discrete sharp peaks (about 0.5nm) slightly blueshifted with respect to the highest efficiency region of the gain medium. A comparative study was performed in systems having different sizes and confining geometries, corroborating the idea that the random lasing observed in dye doped nematic phase is fluctuation driven through a recurrent multiple scattering process.

Asymmetric electro-optical response in a liquid crystal cell containing a layer of amorphous tungsten trioxide

In this work, we present the experimental evidence of a polarity sensitive electro-optic response in a nematic liquid crystal. The liquid crystal cell was made by using a standard sandwich configuration, with one of the indium tin oxide electrodes covered by a thin layer of tungsten trioxide (WO3), deposited by sputtering. The optical response was inhibited when the electrode covered by WO3 film was anodically charged, while the usual optical response occurred under a reverse field. An ionic diffusion process was associated with the establishment of an internal electric field, which inhibited unipolarly the optical switching.

Polarity sensitive electrooptical response in a nematic liquid crystal–polymer mixture

A polarity sensitive electrooptical effect has been observed in nematic liquid crystal–polymer mixtures where a gradient of the polymer network density is created by strongly absorbed ultraviolet light. The effect is accounted for by a model based upon consideration of the space charge distribution caused by the polymerization process. The effect may be of interest for practical applications in optical shutters and electrically controlled windows.

Characterization of rhenium oxide films and their application to liquid crystal cells

Rhenium trioxide exhibits high electronic conductivity, while its open cubic crystal structure allows an appreciable hydrogen intercalation, generating disordered solid phases, with protonic conductivity. Rhenium oxide thin films have been obtained by thermal evaporation of ReO3 powders on different substrates, maintained at different temperatures, and also by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Re metallic target. A comparative investigation has been carried out on these films, by using micro-Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Two basic types of solid phases appear to grow in the films: a red metallic HxReO3 compound, with distorted perovskite structures, like in the bulk material, and ordered HReO4 crystals based on tetrahedral perrhenate ions. Because of its conduction properties, the electrical and electro-optical behaviors of ReO3 films deposited on standard indium tin oxide/glass substrate have been tested inside asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells, showing an appreciable capability of rectification of their electro-optical response, in similar way to tungsten trioxide.Rhenium trioxide exhibits high electronic conductivity, while its open cubic crystal structure allows an appreciable hydrogen intercalation, generating disordered solid phases, with protonic conductivity. Rhenium oxide thin films have been obtained by thermal evaporation of ReO3 powders on different substrates, maintained at different temperatures, and also by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Re metallic target. A comparative investigation has been carried out on these films, by using micro-Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Two basic types of solid phases appear to grow in the films: a red metallic HxReO3 compound, with distorted perovskite structures, like in the bulk material, and ordered HReO4 crystals based on tetrahedral perrhenate ions. Because of its conduction properties, the electrical and electro-optical behaviors of ReO3 films deposited on standard indium tin oxide/glass substrate have been tested inside asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells, showing an appreciable capability of rec...

Changes of the electro-optic response of nematic liquid crystal cells due to inserted titania-vanadia films

We report a polarity-sensitive electro-optical response observed in nematic liquid crystal cells characterized by asymmetric insertion of thin films of titania-vanadia oxide with a Ti∕V atomic ratio of 1∕1, prepared by sol-gel synthesis on transparent indium tin oxide. The electro-optical effect is opposite to previously reported ones but is obtained using the same materials with a slightly different sol-gel route. The structural properties of titania-vanadia films are extensively studied with particular attention paid to the thermal history of the films. The measurements made of the films and on the nematic liquid crystal cell demonstrate that the crystalline structure of the film is responsible of the observed effect. Thermal annealing of the films results in formation of structures that dramatically change the electric properties of the films. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the surface charge distribution inside the nematic liquid crystal cell that results in the observed electro-optical ef...

Electrical and electro-optical investigations of liquid crystal cells containing TiO2–V2O5 thin films prepared by sol–gel synthesis

This work is aimed at a deeper understanding of the polarity-sensitive electro-optical response observed in a liquid crystal (LC) cell with asymmetric insertion of thin films of TiO2–V2O5 having a Ti/V atomic ratio of 1/1, prepared by sol–gel synthesis on a transparent indium tin oxide substrate. After preliminary structural characterization of the films, the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal cells containing a TiO2–V2O5 layer has been analyzed. The voltage thresholds of the Freedericksz transition are increased or decreased for anodic or the cathodic polarization, respectively, of the TiO2–V2O5 film. In such a way a polarity-sensitive electro-optical response is generated that has the same frequency as the field applied. Impedance and cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed on liquid crystal cells having TiO2–V2O5 films inserted as the electrode, for as-deposited films as well as for films annealed at 400 °C. The LC cell containing thermally annealed Ti/V 1/1 film showed a rectified s...

Insertion of thin films of WO3 in liquid crystal cells

A new kind of a liquid crystal cell has been made by using a standard sandwich configuration with one of the ITO electrodes, covered by a thin layer of tungsten trioxide deposited by r.f. sputtering in a reactive atmosphere of Ar and O2 gas. In this kind of cell the optical polarisation switching of the cell (observed under a crossed polarizer microscope) occurs only for one of the two directions of the a.c. applied field, while in the usual liquid crystal cells the electro-optic response does not depend on the sign of field. The inhibiting switching configuration corresponds to the anodic polarisation of tungsten trioxide film in which the de-intercalation of cations occurs. Preliminary impedance measurements reveal an ionic diAusion process in such devices (Warburg impedance behavior). These preliminary results suggest speculations about a reverse internal electric field, which is responsible for the increased threshold of optical switching in one direction only of the applied field. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells containing lead zirconium titanate (PZT) films

Interest in thin films of PZT (lead zirconium titanate PbZr0.47Ti0.53O3) has increased because of their potential applications. For instance, the insertion of PZT in asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells induces a rectified electro-optical response similar to that observed in such cells because of the insertion of metal oxide layers with ionic conductivity. In the present work several PZT films have been investigated, obtained by different thermal treatments after sol-gel synthesis and spin coating deposition. The observed rectifying effect, due to the insertion of PZT films in asymmetric liquid crystal cells, has been attributed to the presence of an internal field made from the reorientation of nanodomains of PZT. The presence of such internal fields is demonstrated and an estimation of it is given. Moreover, asymmetric nematic liquid crystal cells made with PZT films show considerable improvements in both contrast and response time.