Nonlinear optical transmission of lead phthalocyanine-doped nematic liquid crystal composites for multiscale nonlinear switching from nanosecond to continuous wave.
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.
College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. cxsheng@yahoo.com
ChuanXiang
C
Sheng
Robert A
RA
Norwood
Jiafu
J
Wang
Jayan
J
Thomas
Diane
D
Steeves
Brian
B
Kimball
N
N
Peyghambarian
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D055096:Optical Devices; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*
C446702:Lead phthalocyanine; D009942:Organometallic Compounds