Sub-microsecond electric switching of large birefringence in the isotropic phase of ferroelectric nematics
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866915390997659648 |
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| author | Thapa, Kamal Paladugu, Sathyanarayana Lavrentovich, Oleg D. |
| author_facet | Thapa, Kamal Paladugu, Sathyanarayana Lavrentovich, Oleg D. |
| contents | Conventional nonpolar nematic liquid crystals, widely known for their successful display applications, are not well-suited for fast electro-optical switching because of the slow (milliseconds) field-off relaxation of the director. In this work, we demonstrate sub-microsecond field-on and field-off switching of a large (~0.1) birefringence by applying a moderate electric field (30-100) V/μm, to an isotropic film of a ferroelectric nematic material. This highly efficient electro-optical switching is rooted in the recently discovered field-induced isotropic to ferroelectric nematic phase transition [J. Szydlowska et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 216802 (2023)]. The demonstrated sub-microsecond switching of ferroelectric birefringence induced by field (FBIF) has the potential for applications in fast-switching electro-optic devices, such as phase modulators, light shutters, beam steerers, switchable optical compensators. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_11290 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Sub-microsecond electric switching of large birefringence in the isotropic phase of ferroelectric nematics Thapa, Kamal Paladugu, Sathyanarayana Lavrentovich, Oleg D. Soft Condensed Matter Optics Conventional nonpolar nematic liquid crystals, widely known for their successful display applications, are not well-suited for fast electro-optical switching because of the slow (milliseconds) field-off relaxation of the director. In this work, we demonstrate sub-microsecond field-on and field-off switching of a large (~0.1) birefringence by applying a moderate electric field (30-100) V/μm, to an isotropic film of a ferroelectric nematic material. This highly efficient electro-optical switching is rooted in the recently discovered field-induced isotropic to ferroelectric nematic phase transition [J. Szydlowska et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 216802 (2023)]. The demonstrated sub-microsecond switching of ferroelectric birefringence induced by field (FBIF) has the potential for applications in fast-switching electro-optic devices, such as phase modulators, light shutters, beam steerers, switchable optical compensators. |
| title | Sub-microsecond electric switching of large birefringence in the isotropic phase of ferroelectric nematics |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.11290 |