Chiral nematic liquid crystal device with linear electroclinic effect

摘要

An electro-optical device including a chiral nematic liquid crystal disposed between flat plates treated to weakly enforce molecular orientation along one preferred direction parallel to the plates. The plates are spaced by a distance small compared to the pitch of the helix typical in a bulk of the material, or the helix compensated by additives to ensure the equivalent situation. By an externally applied electric field the liquid crystal molecular orientation is rotated in a plane parallel to the plates away from the preferred orientation an angle the sign and size of which depends on the sign and magnitude of the field. The optical axis of the liquid crystal, oriented along the molecular orientation, is thus controlled by the external electric field in such a way as to make a linear light valve or other electro-optical device.