Spontaneous Polarization Vector Reorientation Type Photorefractive Effect in Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The photorefractive effect of low-molecular-weight ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) doped with photoconductive compounds was investigated using two-beam coupling experiments. An asymmetric energy exchange was observed in the surface-stabilized state of the FLCs which do not possess strong electron withdrawing substituent. The effects of temperature, applied electric field and the magnitude of spontaneous polarization were investigated.