2C09 Infrared-induced liquid crystalline alignment control : Domain change of SmB phase by infrared incidence

Abstract

Optical texture change of SmB phase by infrared laser incidence (using Free Electron Laser) was observed by a polarized microscope. The incident wavelengths used in these experiments were selected for the vibrational excitation of a C=C stretching mode of the aromatic core. It was found that such an incidence could give rise to the formation of a new domain with uniform alignment in a non-uniform texture in SmB phase. The results indicate that the infrared incident technique is useful to control the alignment for highly ordered calamitic systems.