Finger forming optically induced phase transition in dye-doped liquid crystal

Gregorio Gonzalez-Cortes

doi:10.1117/12.2594553

2 September 2021 Finger forming optically induced phase transition in dye-doped liquid crystal

Gregorio Gonzalez-Cortes

Proceedings Volume 11807, Liquid Crystals XXV; 118070G (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594553
Event: SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Interfaces between two phases may exhibit enthralling shapes. Optically driven phase transitions are a benchmark that enables spatial control in the order parameter. Dye-doped liquid crystals allow purely optically induced phase transitions. Here we show the temporal evolution of finger-like structures at the nematic-isotropic interface in a photoisomerization experiment in a liquid crystal mixture between E7 and methyl-red dye in twisted planar cells both in the turn-on and turn-o of light scenarios. From the nematic to isotropic liquid transition, triggered by turning on the light, the emergence, growth, and retraction of finger-like structures are observed and characterized. In contrast, the isotropic-to-nematic phase transition when the light turns off transient foam-like and labyrinthine textures are observed. A reduced model based on dopant concentration and the liquid crystal order parameter reproduces all the observed phenomena.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Gregorio Gonzalez-Cortes "Finger forming optically induced phase transition in dye-doped liquid crystal", Proc. SPIE 11807, Liquid Crystals XXV, 118070G (2 September 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594553

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