Abstract

Flexoelectric effect¹ in liquid crystal is important for spatial light modulators because it allows for polar effect in liquid crystals. The commonly used electro-optic effect for nematic liquid crystal is the dielectric effect whose magnitude is proportional to the square of the applied electric field. For this process the "switch on" process can be accelerated by applying larger values of the electric field, but there is no electrical control over the "switch off process. The "switch off process depends on the sample thickness and elastic properties of the system. In contrast to these processes the polar effects such as the flexoelectric effect¹ and the more popular ferroelectric effect² allows for electrical control over both the "switch on" and the "switch off" times.

© 1990 Optical Society of America