The director structure and electroclinic fast optical switching in a grating-coupled ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal cell

Optical excitation of guided modes in a liquid crystal layer using grating- coupling gives sharp features in the angle-dependent reflectivity data. The se features are strengthened by using a metallized grating to enhance coupl ing to the guided modes in the liquid crystal. In the present study the liq uid crystal has a smectic A phase which exhibits fast electroclinic switchi ng. Combining the sharp features in the reflectivity together with the elec troclinic effect leads to fast, high contrast, optical switching which may open up potential for novel device structures.