OPTICALLY ADDRESSED SPATIAL LIGHT-MODULATOR USING AN ANTIFERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL DOPED WITH AZOBENZENE

We have fabricated an optically addressed bistable light modulator ope rable under a bias voltage using an antiferroelectric liquid crystal d oped with photochromic dye molecules. The photoreaction is based on th e change in the threshold voltage in the field-induced antiferroelectr ic-ferroelectric phase transition, which is driven by the cis-trans ph otoisomerization. A response time of 30 ms was achieved by irradiation of a 10 mW Ar+ laser without focusing. We demonstrated the recording ability of continuous gray levels by changing either light intensity o r pulse duration.