Optical memory effect in a deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal

Optical memory in a deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal is proposed by deforming the helix under the application of a square-voltage pulse of known magnitude and frequency. This effect is based on the electromechanical effect of helix deformation due to the electric field. When the interaction between the electric field and the dipole is sufficiently strong, all of the dipoles align along the electric field. In such a situation the interlayer dipole-dipole interaction is strong enough to balance the elastic deformation energy. When the electric field is switched off, the molecules remain in a static, balanced state owing to the dipole-dipole interaction and hence the memory effect. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.