Liquid Crystals: Optical Properties and Basic Devices
Book chapter, 2015
Liquid crystals (LCs) are liquid or liquid-like states that are anisotropic. Therefore, they have less symmetry than ordinary liquids, but higher symmetry than crystals. The anisotropy makes them optically birefringent like most crystals. This entry relates the structural properties of the organic molecules that are the building blocks to the optical and the electro-optic properties of the different LC phases. The exceptional elastic properties of LCs are also described.
Author
Sven Lagerwall
Chalmers University of Technology
Per Rudquist
Chalmers, Applied Physics, Electronics Material and Systems
David Hermann
Encyclopedia of Optical and Photonic Engineering Second Edition
1473-1489
9781351247177 (ISBN)
Subject Categories
Physical Chemistry
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1081/E-EOE2-120009601