title: Low absorption liquid crystals for mid-wave infrared applications.
abstract: A partially fluorinated terphenyl liquid crystal with low absorption in both mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and near IR regions is developed and its properties evaluated. This compound exhibits a nematic phase (although only about 2 °C), reasonably high birefringence (Δn~0.2), low visco-elastic coefficient, and modest dielectric anisotropy (Δε = -2.7). This compound serves as an important first example for future development of low-loss MWIR liquid crystals and devices.
authors.affiliation: College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haiqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xianyu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: Suvagata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Twieg
authors.forename: Shin-Tson
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wu