electro-optics and nonlinear optics of liquid crystal-plasmonic materials and structures
Open Access
- Author:
- Ma, Yi
- Graduate Program:
- Electrical Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- November 27, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Iam Choon Khoo, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Iam Choon Khoo, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Timothy Joseph Kane, Committee Member
Zhiwen Liu, Committee Member
Thomas E Mallouk, Committee Member - Keywords:
- liquid crystal
- Abstract:
- The electro-optics and nonlinear optics effects of liquid crystals have already been intensively studied. Many people have invented a wide range of applications based on these properties, such as the liquid crystal display using the electro-optics effect, and the all-optical liquid crystal switching using the nonlinear optics effects. There continues to be interest in the liquid crystal research field. Plasmonics is one of the research “hotspots” recently; especially in the last ten years. Basically, plasmonics or surface plasmon is a research field of sub-wavelength optics. It is always involved with nano-sized particles or structures. Theories about the surface plasmon polariton and localized surface plasmon resonance have been developed. The combination of liquid crystal-plasmonic materials and structures has attracted my interest. The unique property of liquid crystal provides tunability to the plasmonic structures, while the near field electrical/optical field enhancement produced by nanoparticles influences the liquid crystal composite. In this dissertation, by using the required knowledge and concepts, the interaction effects between liquid crystal and plasmonics are discussed. Certain useful application designs and future work are also proposed. Chapters 2 and 3 contain the fundamental knowledge base of the dissertation. Chapter 4 is focused on the effect of nanoparticles on the liquid crystal and nonlinear liquid. The material of nano-sized metal particle dispersed liquid crystal with tunable refractive index is also introduced. In addition, the nonlinear absorption enhancement is also studied. Chapter 5 is about the liquid crystal-plasmonic nanostructures. Most of the content focuses on the tuning of the localized surface plasmon resonance peak position, and some other applications are mentioned as well. Chapter 6 contains the summary and a discussion of possible future work.