Optical switching and alignment of antiferroelectric liquid crystals containing an azo group

The optical properties of two kinds of photochromic antiferroelectric liqui d crystal (AFLC) containing an azo group have been examined. Depending on t he substituting group at the chiral centre, these AFLCs showed different ph otoinduced phase transitions by Ar+ laser light irradiation. This phase tra nsition has led to a new form of optical switching controlled by a bias vol tage. In addition, it was found that these AFLCs caused an azimuthal photoa lignment effect regulated by linearly polarized Ar+ laser light irradiation . These phenomena were applied to image storage.