Thermo-Optic Effects in Nematic-Cholesteric Mixtures

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Abstract
Optical storage is found to be produced thermally in mixtures of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals. The thin mesophase layer is initially transparent. It is subjected to a heating‐cooling cycle that takes it back and forth through one of its phase‐transition temperatures. This converts it to a long‐lived light scatterer and decreases its optical transmission by 200:1. The initial state can be restored rapidly using electric fields; thus, the optical transition is reversible. Experimental data in the −18°C to 50°C range are presented and discussed.