Stimulated Orientational Scattering (SOS) uses the angular reorientation of the director axis in liquid crystals to produce
cross-polarized light amplification. Akin to photorefractivity, SOS uses grating formation and the resulting phase-matching
to scatter incident radiation into a coherent, cross-polarized signal beam. This paper provides a brief review of
the theory underlying SOS, a discussion of the simulation of SOS dynamics, and empirical results of the SOS effect
acting in a thin film (300 μm) planar sample of the liquid crystal E7 induced by an Argon ion laser at a wavelength of
488 nm.
We present a theoretical model and some experiment demonstrations of all-optical passive switching processes with 90°
twist-aligned nano-doped nematic liquid crystal cells sandwiched between two crossed polarizers. The photosensitive
dopants give rise to laser induced dye-assisted director axis reorientation and order parameter modifications, which in
turn produce an intensity dependent polarization switching and hence a transmission modulation capability.
Experimental observations are in good agreement with our expectation derived from modified Jones matrix analysis and
also demonstrate the feasibility of an efficient [microwatt power] low threshold polarization and fast switching
[microseconds] all optical limiting device for visible as well as infrared lasers or bright light sources.
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