Pattern of liquid crystalline droplets induced by two beam interference in azobenzene derivative

• Pattern of liquid crystal droplets dispersed in isotropic liquid is being formed.
• Formation of the pattern is reversible and pattern diffracts light into orders.
• Such grating can be recorded in certain temperature and light intensity range.
• Photothermal and orientational effects are assumed as responsible for the effect.

A pattern of liquid crystalline droplets dispersed in the isotropic liquid can be formed during illumination by two interfering laser beams in certain range of the temperature and the light intensity. Azobenzene derivative substituted by long alkyl and alkoxy chains exhibiting smectic phases has been used for the study. The pattern can be reversibly erased and rewritten by shutting down and opening of the interfering beams. Polarized microscope images have shown the formation of numerous liquid crystalline droplets at bright regions of the interference fringes. Influence of the temperature and the light intensity has been studied by measuring the diffraction efficiency dynamics. Photothermal and photoorientational mechanisms of the formation of liquid crystalline droplets pattern have been proposed and discussed.

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