title: Formation of spatial structures in bistable optical elements containing nematic liquid crystals.
abstract: We present experimental results on bistable elements with liquid crystals as nonlinear elements showing that, under cw illumination, sequences of spatial structures occur. Index fluctuations, as a particular characteristic of this class of material, seem to play a central role in this effect. We describe the system and discuss some of its key properties.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tschudi