Nonlinear optical transmission of lead phthalocyanine-doped nematic liquid crystal composites for multiscale nonlinear switching from nanosecond to continuous wave

Appl Opt. 2009 May 10;48(14):2731-4. doi: 10.1364/ao.48.002731.

Abstract

We have formulated composites of lead (II) tetrakis (4-cumylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (PbTCPc) doped into nematic liquid crystal (LC), 4(')-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (5-CB), that has received a 90 degree twisted alignment and investigated the nonlinear transmission properties using both pulsed (Nd:YLF 524 nm, 5 ns) and cw (532 nm) lasers. In the nanosecond regime, this compound is a reverse saturable absorber performing similarly to low-concentration solutions of PbTCPc. Under cw conditions, we observe optically self-activated polarization switching with low threshold input energy. Our results suggest the potential for an all-optical switch working from the nanosecond time scale to cw.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Manufactured Materials
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Optical Devices*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Lead phthalocyanine
  • Organometallic Compounds