title: Kerr constant and third-order nonlinear optic susceptibility measurements in a liquid crystal composed of bent-shaped molecules.
abstract: We report the determination of the Kerr constant (B) and the real part of the third-order nonlinear optic susceptibility (chi(3)) above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature (TNI) of a liquid crystal composed of bent-shaped molecules. The values of B and chi(3) just above (approximately 0.3 degrees C) TNI are approximately 8x10(-12) m/V2 and 5x10(-20) m2/V2, respectively. The estimated critical temperature TC* is about 1.5 degrees C below TNI indicating that the nematic-isotropic (NI) transition is weakly first order as in the case of calamitic liquid crystals. The temperature-dependent Kerr constant is found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the Landau-de Gennes theory. The experimental results are compared with those in a calamitic liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy in the nematic phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Polymeric Materials, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-S8-42 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
authors.forename: Surajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhara
authors.forename: Fumito
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Araoka
authors.forename: Mongryong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Khoa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Le
authors.forename: Lingfen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sadashiva
authors.forename: Kigook
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takezoe