Cumulative self-phase modulation in planar nematics driven by 532-nm nanosecond laser pulses

Svetlana G. Lukishova

doi:10.1117/12.363872

4 October 1999 Cumulative self-phase modulation in planar nematics driven by 532-nm nanosecond laser pulses

Svetlana G. Lukishova

Proceedings Volume 3798, Power-Limiting Materials and Devices; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363872
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

In response to 6-10-ns laser irradiation of nematic liquid- crystal layers, unusual approximately 0.5 - ten second build-up time, high-contrast, far-field, concentric elliptical diffraction rings in a 532-nm, linearly polarized, Gaussian beams, are observed at 2 - 10-Hz pulse- repetition rate, a phenomenon strongly dependent on the orientation of the nematic molecules, under experimental conditions excluding ordinary orientational spatial self- phase modulation, for a geometry in which incident laser- light polarization is parallel to the nematic director and propagation direction perpendicular to the planar-nematic cell. Once formed, each set of rings may, upon further irradiation, exist for up to several minutes. The number of these rings varies systematically with laser intensity (between 1 - 2 and (up to) 20 rings). Cells of nematic 5CB (or its mixture with 7 CB) with 30, 50, 105, or 125-micrometers thickness and laser-beam diameters (at 1/e² level) of approximately 35 - 50 and 160-micrometers are used. The threshold of the nonlinearity is modified either by changing the laser repetition rate or by adding a two-photon absorbing chromophore. For CW laser irradiation of twice higher power density than the average power density in the pulsed mode the effect disappears.

Citation Download Citation

Svetlana G. Lukishova "Cumulative self-phase modulation in planar nematics driven by 532-nm nanosecond laser pulses", Proc. SPIE 3798, Power-Limiting Materials and Devices, (4 October 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363872

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