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The optical properties of the azo-dyes SD-1/SDA-2, which are used for photoaligning of liquid crystals (LCs), are investigated with Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (VASE). Films of mixture of SD-1/SDA-2 are deposited by spin coating on silicon wafers. The estimated thickness is approximately 10 nm. To achieve photo-induced anisotropy, one of the samples is illuminated during 15 minutes with linearly polarized UV light followed by thermal stabilization during 1 hour at 150 degrees C. VASE measurements are performed in the wavelength range 200-1350 rim at several angles of incidence and at different sample orientations. Dielectric functions of azo-dye films without/with polarized UV light illumination were modelled using an ensemble of Lorentz oscillators. The results confirm the diffusion model proposed recently for explanation of the formation of the photo-induced order in azo-dye films under the action of polarized light. Refractive indices, their wavelength dispersion and thicknesses of films of SD-1/SDA-2 are reported here.

We present two functions for characterization of birefringent media with application to twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) cells in the field off state. The first function is for reflective LC cells and the second is for transmissive LC cells. Based on the Stockes formalism, it is shown that these functions describe the ability of a layer of the twisted birefringent medium to change polarization of the output light and are invariant to the layer orientation. The characteristic functions are found in simple procedures and can be used for simultaneous determination of retardation, its wavelength dispersion, and twist angle, as well as for solving optimization problems. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) is applied for investigation of the azo-dye SD-1/SDA-2 which are used for photoalignment of liquid crystals. The azo-dye was spin coated on silicon substrates. Samples as prepared as well as samples illuminated with polarized UV light were studied. The measured optical constants were modelled with an ensemble of the Lorentz oscillators. The results confirm the reorientation mechanism of the photo-induced order formation in the azo-dye films under the action of polarized light, and also show that there exist some photochemical processes.

We introduce a method for the determination of the optical retardation, its wavelength dispersion, the cell twist angle, and the orientation of the input director in a reflective liquid crystal (LC) cell. These parameters are found from the extremes of a characteristic function defined as a sum of two spectral reflectivities of the LC cell placed between a pair of linear polarizers. The reflectivities are measured for two cell orientations, one of which is arbitrary and the other one is turned through 45°. Both theoretical analysis and experimental procedures are presented. Excellent agreement between the experiment and our theory has been found. The proposed method can be applied to the measurement of reflective LC cells with small and large cell gaps, as well as cells with small and large twist angles.

We study the possibility of a layer of a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal coupled with several retardation plates for birefringent color generation. Double and single polarizer reflective bistable dichromatic ferroelectric liquid crystal displays are considered. We demonstrate that one or two retardation plates are sufficient for a display having good color characteristics and high brightness. Optimal parameters for green/red and blue/yellow ferroelectric liquid crystal displays are found.

We consider peculiarities in testing flexible reflective liquid-crystal (LC) cells. Several new methods for measuring optical retardation of filled reflective LC cells on plastic substrates are proposed. Cases when the plastic is anisotropic and the LC cell consists of either one or two internal polarizers are studied. The majority of proposed methods can be applied for transmissive LC cells as well as for measuring twist angle.

We present a sytem MePaLC for measuring retardation, its wavelength dispersion, twist angle, cell gap, and orientation of the input director. MePaLC enables us to measure practically all types of nematic liquid crystal cells: reflective and transmissive ones, with small and large cell gap.

We study single and double polarizer monochromatic bistable reflective and transfective direct view ferroelectric liquid crystal displays (FLCDs). Three types of monochromatic displays are considered Black & White, Black & Yellow, Black & Green. Theoretical approach for finding optimal parameters of an FLCD is presented.