Radiation effects on nematic liquid crystal devices

Francis Berghmans; Marc C. Decreton; Krzysztof Zdrodowski; Tomasz Nasilowski; Hugo Thienpont; Irina P. Veretennicoff

doi:10.1117/12.254035

18 October 1996 Radiation effects on nematic liquid crystal devices

Francis Berghmans, Marc C. Decreton, Krzysztof Zdrodowski, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, Irina P. Veretennicoff

Proceedings Volume 2811, Photonics for Space Environments IV; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254035
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

Liquid crystal devices are among the most important elements in today's photonic technology. However, little is known about the effects of ionizing radiation on the electro-optic properties of nematic liquid crystal devices. Therefore, we have performed gamma irradiation experiments on commercially available liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVR). We monitored the voltage tunable birefringence of the LCVRs at 633 nm, using a real-time polarization analyzer, as a function of total dose. The first experiment was conducted at room temperature, using a ⁶⁰Co source with a dose rate of 3.5 Gy/h, up to a total dose of about 0.5 kGy. A second experiment was conducted at a higher dose rate (85 Gy/h), using a spent fuel irradiator. For voltages exceeding the Frederiksz transition threshold, there was no considerable radiation effect on the birefringence. The sub- threshold birefringence, however, was influenced by radiation and showed post-irradiation recovery. A final experiment at 4.5 kGy/h allowed doses of up to 500 kGy to be reached, for which the LCVR still showed satisfactory operation. Further investigations aim at performing parameter estimations for identifying which liquid crystal material parameters are most affected by radiation.

Citation Download Citation

Francis Berghmans, Marc C. Decreton, Krzysztof Zdrodowski, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, and Irina P. Veretennicoff "Radiation effects on nematic liquid crystal devices", Proc. SPIE 2811, Photonics for Space Environments IV, (18 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254035

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