Broad spectrum measurement of the birefringence of an isothiocyanate based liquid crystal.

Tunable materials with high anisotropy of refractive index and low loss are of particular interest in the microwave and terahertz range. Nematic liquid crystals are highly sensitive to electric and magnetic fields and may be designed to have particularly high birefringence. In this paper we investigate birefringence and absorption losses in an isothiocyanate based liquid crystal (designed for high anisotropy) in a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum, namely 0.1-4 GHz, 30 GHz, 0.5-1.8 THz, and in the visible and near-infrared region (400 nm-1600 nm). We report high birefringence (Δn = 0.19-0.395) and low loss in this material. This is attractive for tunable microwave and terahertz device applications.

Liquid crystal based continuous phase retarder: From optically neutral to a quarter waveplate in 200 microseconds

Liquid crystal variable phase retarders have been incorporated into prototype devices for optical communications system applications, both as endless polarization controllers 1,2,3, and as holographic beam steerers 4. Nematic liquid crystals allow continuous control of the degree of retardation induced at relatively slow switching speeds, while ferroelectric liquid crystal based devices allow fast (sub millisecond) switching, but only between two bistable states. The flexoelectro-optic effect 5,6 in short-pitch chiral nematic liquid crystals allows both fast switching of the optic axis and continuous, electric field dependent control of the degree of rotation of the optic axis. A novel geometry for the flexoelectro-optic effect is presented here, in which the helical axis of the chiral nematic is perpendicular to the cell walls (grandjean texture) and the electric field is applied in the plane of the cell. This facilitates deflection of the optic axis of the uniaxial negatively birefringent material from lying along the direction of propagation to having some component in the polarization plane of the light. The device is therefore optically neutral at zero field for telecommunications wavelengths (1550nm), and allows a continuously variable degree of phase excursion to be induced, up to 2π/3 radians achieved so far in a 40μm thick cell. The retardation has been shown both to appear, on application of the field, and disappear on removal, at speeds of 100-500 μs. The direction of deflection of the optic axis is also dependent on the direction of the field, allowing the possibility, in a converging electrode "cartwheel cell", of endless rotation of the liquid crystal waveplate at a higher rate than achievable through dielectric coupling to plain nematic materials.

Microbead dynamics on quartz crystal microbalance at elevated amplitudes

The application of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) for biochemical sensing is well known. However, utilizing the nonlinear response of the QCM at elevated amplitudes has received sporadic attention. This study presents results for QCM-analyte interaction that provide insight into the nonlinear dynamics of the QCM with attached analyte. In particular, interactions of the QCM with polystyrene microbeads physisorbed via self-assembled monolayer (SAM) were studied through experiments and modelling. It was found that the response of the QCM coupled to these surface adsorbents is anharmonic even at low oscillation amplitudes and that the nonlinear signals from such interactions are much higher than those for bare quartz. Therefore, these signals can potentially be used as sensitive signatures of adsorbents and their kinetics on the surface. ©2009 IEEE.

Assembly and inspection of liquid crystal on silicon devices

Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) is one of the most exciting technologies, combining the optical modulation characteristics of liquid crystals with the power and compactness of a silicon backplane. The objective of our work is to improve cell assembly and inspection methods by introducing new equipment for automated assembly and by using an optical inspection microscope. A Suss-Micro'Tec Universal device bonder is used for precision assembly and device packaging and an Olympus BX51 high resolution microscope is employed for device inspection. ©2009 Optical Society of America.

GSPS photonic analogue to digital conversion system using broadband continuous wave source

An 80 GSPS photonic ADC system is demonstrated, using broadband MLL and dispersive fibre to form a continuous waveform with time-wavelength mapping, and AWG to channelise. Tests are carried out for RF signals up to 10GHz. © 2005 Optical Society of America.

ROLE OF CHLORINE AND ALKALI PROMOTERS IN ETHYLENE EPOXIDATION OVER SINGLE CRYSTAL SILVER SURFACES.

Experiments with N//2O were carried out with a view to obtaining additional information about the reactivity of oxygen surface species. On clean Ag, N//2O decomposition was found to be an activated process which led exclusively to the deposition of O(a) species. The presence of preadsorbed oxygen or subsurface oxygen served to enhance the deposition rate of O(a). Subsequent dosing with ethylene at 300 K of such an oxygen-populated surface followed by TPR examination showed it to be active for ethylene oxide formation. Control experiments established that adventitious decomposition of N//2O at the reactor walls or specimen supports followed by possible re-absorption of O//2(a) was an entirely negligible process. ) The oxidation activity of N//2O was also investigated at elevated pressures in the batch reactor.

Mechanism And Selectivity In The Epoxidation Of Ethylene Over Silver: The Results Of Single Crystal Measurements

The silver-catalysed oxidation of ethylene has been examined on the (III) face of a single crystal by a combination of electron spectroscopy and kinetic measurements at pressures of up to 50 Torr. The necessary and sufficient conditions for ethylene oxide formation are established, reaction intermediates are identified, kinetic isotope effects are observed and the role of Cs in modifying reaction selectivity is examined. It is shown that surface alkali exhibits opposite effects on the reactions which lead to the further oxidation of ethylene oxide and on the direct combustion of ethylene. © 1984.