Nonlinear Liquid Crystalline Fiber Structures
Abstract
This research program is centered on exploring and studying the fundamental mechanisms underlying novel nonlinear optical properties of liquid crystals in their isotropic as well as liquid crystalline phases. Experimental and theoretical studies involving nonlinear optical wave mixing, short pulse propagation in nonlinear fiber core, and polarization selective holography were conducted. The technical achievements obtained may be summarized in the following two broad categories. : (1) Development of an extremely nonlinear fiber core liquid characterized by an intensity-dependent effective two-photon absorption coefficient that ranks among the largest of all known nonlinear liquids. In particular, the liquid cored fiber is capable of high (linear) transmission, and limits picosecond - nanosecond laser pulses to below sensor/eye damage level. Detailed model for describing the nonlinear photonic processes and molecular dynamics of the fiber core liquid have also been developed. (2) Discovery of two nematic liquid crystalline materials that exhibit supra-optical nonlinearities. methyl-red and azobenzene-LC doped nematic liquid crystals (NLC). The nonlinear index change coefficients of these NLC are found to be in the range of 2 - 20 sq cm/W. These nonlinear films enable feasibility demonstration of some advanced all-optical operations such as optical limiting and anti-glare operation against long pulse or cw lasers at submicrowatt power, incoherent-coherent image conversion and image inversion, dynamic and storage holographic grating formation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA384255
Entities
People
- Iam C. Khoo
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University