Optical and Electro-Optical Control of Grating Efficiency in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Cell with Azo Polymer Boundary

Abstract

Abstract A novel control of the grating efficiency in a nematic liquid crystal cell with an azobenzene polymer surface is proposed. In an optical control regime, the grating effect can be controlled by alternate polarization switchings of one pump beam due to strong polarization sensitivity of azobenzene chromophores. Moreover, the grating efficiency can be easily tuned by an external ac electric field.