Abstract

The optical effect due to a change from a state of total internal reflection (TIR) to a transmission state at a nonlinear interface have been considered by some authors (1). Optical switching and testability have also been observed using liquid crystals, exploiting their strong orientational nonlinearities (2). In this case two problems arise to obtain a switching effect at a glass - liquid crystal interface: the strong anchoring condition, typical of the liquid crystal - substrate interaction and the very low switching time (seconds).

© 1988 Optical Society of America