1c07 Observation of Electronic Polarization in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Kerr effect of liquid crystals which is characterized by its fast response has been observed in an isotropic phase or in a pseudo isotropic phase such as a blue phase. However, liquid crystals with large electronic polarization generally have large dipole moment, and dipole polarization is simultaneously observed in the low frequency range. Then, we tried to induce only electronic polarization in a nematic phase by using a homeotropic cell filled with p-type nematic liquid crystals. And we confirmed that it was possibly based on Pockels effect, as the induced birefringence was proportional to the magnitude of electric field.