2a05 Nonlinear Optical Molecular Orientation Behavior of Liquid Crystals Doped with π-Conjugated Dyes

Abstract

π-Conjugated liquid-crystalline (LC) system has attracted as not only optical materials but also next generation of organic electronic materials. It is a key issue to control of molecular alignment for developing optical and electronic devices. LC molecules are known to reorient parallel to the polarization of irradiated light in the field of nonlinear opitcs. In this study, alignment changes in LC system doped with several π-conjugated dyes were induced by a single Ar^+ laser beam. LCs containing coumarin derivatives with high dichroic ratio exhibited photoalignment behavior.