Abstract

It is shown that optical-electrical feedback can transform the Freedericksz transition in a nematic film from second order to first order. The criteria that indicate whether the Freedericksz transition is first or second order are obtained. The hysteresis accompanying the first-order transition versus the feedback intensity is discussed. The feedback-induced first-order Freedericksz transition has been observed experimentally. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.

© 1987 Optical Society of America

First-order optical Freedericksz transition in a dye-doped nematic liquid crystal

F. Simoni, D. E. Lucchetta, L. Lucchetti, H. L. Ong, S. V. Serak, and N. Tabiryan
Opt. Lett. 38(6) 878-880 (2013)

Observation of cancellation and second light-induced Fréedericksz transition in nematic liquid crystals

Antonio De Luca, Sarik Nersisyan, and Cesare Umeton
Opt. Lett. 28(2) 108-110 (2003)

Light depolarization effects during the Fréedericksz transition in nematic liquid crystals

Carlo Vena, Carlo Versace, Giuseppe Strangi, Stefano D’Elia, and Roberto Bartolino
Opt. Express 15(25) 17063-17071 (2007)

Dynamical optical response of nematic liquid crystal cells through electrically driven Fréedericksz transition: influence of the nematic layer thickness

Vittorio Maria Di Pietro, Aurélie Jullien, Umberto Bortolozzo, Nicolas Forget, and Stefania Residori
Opt. Express 26(8) 10716-10728 (2018)

Field-induced inhomogeneous index distribution of a nano-dispersed nematic liquid crystal metamaterial near the Freedericksz transition: Monte Carlo studies

G. Pawlik, M. Jarema, W. Walasik, A. C. Mitus, and I. C. Khoo
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(3) 567-576 (2010)