Liquid crystals in the mid-infrared region and their applications

Some optical properties and nonlinear effects (self-defocusing and self-phase-modulation) in nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) are explored in the mid-infrared region. We also consider thermography as a tool to measure NLC thermal characteristics, like the thermal diffusion length. The problem of the modulation of infrared (IR) light by using NLC devices is discussed and experimental results reported. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.