title: Effects of monomer functionality on switchable holographic gratings formed in polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal cells.
abstract: We investigate the effects of monomer functionality on the formation and switching characteristics of holographic transmission gratings in polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal cells fabricated by using the 633 nm wavelength of an He-Ne laser. We present results for the microstructure, diffraction efficiency eta, and switching characteristics of gratings formed with acrylate monomers of functionalities ranging from 2 to 4. The microstructure and diffraction efficiency are sensitive to functionality; both improve with increasing functionality. For functionalities of 2.5 or more, eta approaches 34% and can be switched off with electric fields of about 20 MV m(-1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Suresh C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma