PA57 Rotation control of cholesteric liquid crystalline microcapsules by a needle-like aggregate of magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Cholesteric liquid crystalline (CLC) core-shell microcapsules (MCs) function as various optical devices, such as omnidirectional laser resonator. For optical phase control of the laser action, we focus on the control of the orientation of CLC-MCs. We have successfully controlled the orientation of a CLC-MC with a needle-like aggregate in one disclination line in the CLC shell. Here, we report that CLC-MCs with a low viscosity of outer phase are reoriented faster than that with a high viscosity. This result indicates that the needle-like aggregate doesn't migrate in the steady CLC phase, and instead, the whole CLC-MC is reoriented in a uniform magnetic field.