AN ELECTROOPTIC DEVICE BASED ON FIELD-CONTROLLED ANCHORING OF A NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

A surface-controlled electro-optic device using a nematic liquid cryst al enclosed between two thin spaced glass plates is presented. Modulat ion angles of the optic axis up to more than 70 degrees can be achieve d even for small applied voltages. The switching of the optic axis occ urs with a large component in the plane of the sample even though the electric field is applied normal to the sample surfaces. The effect se ems to be driven by the dielectric coupling of the liquid crystal mole cules with the applied electric field. The field induced switching pro cess is governed by the bounding surfaces that have been covered with obliquely evaporated Sig,. The mechanism of the phenomenon is briefly discussed. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.