SYNTHESIS OF FERROELECTRIC-LIGUID CRYSTALS FOR INFRARED MODULATORS

ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF USES FOR INFRARED (IR) LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY GROWING, THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDED FOR HIGH-SPEED MODULATION OF IR LIGHT IS STILL IN A STATE OF INFANCY. MOST IR MODULATORS ARE MECHANICAL IN NATURE, ALTHOUGH SOME WORK HAS BEEN DONE USING INHERENTLY SLOW NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL LIGHT VALVES. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS FOR USE IN NON-MECHANICAL ELECTROOPTIC SHUTTERS. THE LIQUID CRYSTALS WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP WILL BESUITABLE FOR USE IN AN IR LIGHT VALVE WHICH, DEPENDING ON THE CONFIGURATION USED, WILL HAVE HIGH THROUGHPUT (UP TO 90%), WIDE SPECTRAL-BAND OPERATION (E.G. 3-5 OR 8-14 UM), HIGH SWITCHING SPEEDS (50US), AND LOW POWER CONSUMPTION (10UJ/CM(2)/SWITCHING).