Size dependence of rotation frequency of individual laser trapped liquid crystal droplets

被引：23
作者：
Juodkazis, S
Shikata, M
Takahashi, T
Matsuo, S
Misawa, H
机构：
[1] Univ Tokushima, Satellite Venture Business Lab, Tokushima 7708506, Japan
[2] Univ Tokushima, Grad Sch Engn, Dept Ecosyst Engn, Tokushima 7708506, Japan
来源：
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS PART 2-LETTERS & EXPRESS LETTERS | 1999年 / 38卷 / 5A期
关键词：
liquid crystal; optical switching; laser trapping; light scattering; micromachining;
D O I：
10.1143/JJAP.38.L518
中图分类号：
O59 [应用物理学];
学科分类号：
摘要：
We report the development of an all-optical liquid-crystal (LC) switch realized by laser manipulation of a three-dimensionally trapped micrometer-size nematic liquid-crystal droplet. Transmission of a polarizer/LC droplet/analyzer system can be modulated at a frequency as high as 10(3) Hz for micrometer sized LC droplets. An optical switching corresponds to the rotation of the LC droplet by an angle of pi/4. The dependence of rotation frequency on LC droplet size is explained in terms of the circularly polarized light scattering by the molecules of the LC droplet. This scattering is responsible for the transfer of angular momentum from the light to the LC droplet.
引用
收藏
页码：L518 / L520
页数：3
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