PFI:AIR - TT: Ultra-fast electro-optical switching of nematic liquid crystals

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目专注于翻译最近发现的两种效应，以满足液晶（LC）电光器件的快速开关需求。光传播的快速切换在光通信和计算等应用中至关重要，因为它允许人们在更短的时间内处理更大量的信息。发现的两种效应是纳秒电修饰序参量（NEMOP），其中电场被用来改变LC的折射率，而不是像目前使用的标准方法那样重新定向光轴，以及聚合物诱导的序参量的修饰，允许人们增强开关光学双折射的幅度。基于nemopp的技术具有以下独特的特点：光学性质的切换时间在纳秒级到几十纳秒级；此外，打开和关闭的响应同样快。与基于光轴重新定向的领先竞争LC开关相比，这些特性提供了优势，因为纳秒开关比当前几毫秒的工业标准快数百万倍。基于nemopp的技术利用分子定向的微观效应代替宏观定向，为LC器件的发展带来了新的范式。该项目解决了以下技术差距：相对较高的工作电压（数百伏）和适度的（10-3-10-2）有效折射率调制，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。研究人员将通过多种方法的协同作用来克服这些差距：(a)对LC材料进行聚合物改性以增加开关振幅；(b)探索LC的构效关系，以提高光响应和降低驱动场；(c)增加光传播途径的电光电池设计。其主要商业目标是通信行业，在通信行业中，具有纳秒级响应时间的廉价轻质LC光学和红外调制器将具有很大的价值。此外，参与该项目的人员还包括几名研究生，他们将通过前沿研究、有针对性地将技术发展到商业化水平，以及参与NSF I-Corps计划，获得创新和创业经验。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating two recently discovered effects to fill the need for fast switching of liquid crystal (LC) electro-optic devices. Fast switching of light propagation is of prime importance in applications such as optical communications and computing as it allows one to process larger amounts of information within a shorter period of time. The two discovered effects are the Nanosecond Electrically Modified Order Parameter (NEMOP), in which the electric field is used to alter the refractive indices of the LC rather than to reorient the optic axis as in standard approach used so far, and the polymer-induced modification of the order parameter that allows one to enhance the amplitude of the switched optical birefringence. The NEMOP-based technology has the following unique features: the switching time of optical properties is on the order of nanoseconds and tens of nanoseconds; moreover, the switching-on and switching-off responses are equally fast. These features provide the advantages when compared to the leading competing LC switches based on reorientation of the optic axis, as the nanosecond switching is million times faster than the current industry standard of a few milliseconds.The NEMOP-based technology brings a new paradigm in the development of LC devices by utilizing microscopic effects of molecular alignment instead of macroscopic reorientation. This project addresses the following technology gaps: relatively high operating voltages (hundreds of volts) and moderate (10-3-10-2) modulation of the effective refractive index, as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The researchers will overcome the gaps by a synergy of approaches: (a) polymer modification of the LC materials to increase the amplitude of switching; (b) exploration of LC structure-property relationships in order to enhance the optical response and lower the driving field; (c) design of electro-optic cells that increases the pathway of light propagation. The main commercial target is communication industry where cheap and light-weight LC optical and infrared modulators with nanosecond response times would be of great value. In addition, personnel involved in this project includes several graduate students, who will receive innovation and entrepreneurship experiences through the cutting-edge research, targeted development of the technology to the commercialization level, and through participation in the NSF I-Corps program.