Light driven optical switching of the surface stabilized antiferroelectric liquid crystals

A holographic grating's recording onto liquid crystal (LC) cells filled with nematic mixtures was widely discussed over the last decade (Sutkowski et al., 2006) [1]. Recently, the optical recordings using polar liquid crystals – synclinic SmC⁎ and anticlinic SmCA⁎ phases at the surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal structures (SSFLC) were reported (Sutkowski et al., 2009) [2]. Among the others, SSFLCs provide such attractive properties like submicrosecond switching and the easily induced memory effect, which are desired at contemporary re-writable holography applications. Using SS(A)FLC the micrometer size gratings are also generated (Clark and Lagerwal, 1980) [3]. Here we present a study of the performance of recording of a phase grating of 20 micron resolution using custom fabricated measuring cells with photosensitive orienting layers. The photo- and electro-optical properties of the selected synclinic SmC⁎ and anticlinic SmCA⁎ structures have been examined and presented. Various operating modes of studied structures are shown and described. The charge transfer mechanism of the optically driven switching is proposed and discussed.

► SSAFLC based media for optical recordings of the diffractive gratings is proposed.
► LC cell with azo-dye doped layer is presented.
► Explanation of the azo-dye role in the recording process is proposed.
► Experimental results of the optical recording is presented and discussed.