Optical Power Limiting Liquid Crystal Composites

Abstract

This final report covers the experimental and theoretical investigations of optical power limiting in liquid crystal systems. Both pure and composite systems were investigated. Evaluation of a variety of liquid crystal materials for optical power limiting applications is reported. Under this project, optical power limiting of several pure materials was demonstrated in the nanosecond regime, with the cyanobiphenyls being found most effective for passive OPL applications. For CW lasers, polymer dispersed liquid crystals in a polymer matrix were shown to be effective optical power limiters when used in an active configuration. Extensive research on the mechanisms causing optical nonlinear response in liquid crystals is reported. Additional work on a separate subproject to evaluate and develop the shuttering capability of polymer dispersed liquid crystals in the IR is reported. Work on a variety of polymer/liquid crystal materials is reported. Successful shuttering of IR radiation was shown.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 10, 1994
Accession Number
ADA286605

Entities

People

  • J. W. Doane
  • J. W. West
  • L. C. Chien
  • Michael A. Lee
  • P. Palffy-muhoray

Organizations

  • Kent State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Argon Lasers
  • Composite Materials
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Liquid Crystals
  • Materials
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanosecond Time
  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Phase Transformations
  • Refractive Index
  • Transition Temperature

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy