Liquid Crystal Light Valves: a versatile platform for Nematicons

G. Assanto, A. Piccardi, A. Alberucci, S. Residori and U. Bortolozzo

Photon. Lett. Pol. 1 (4), 151-153 (2009)

Abstract:

We illustrate the generation and control of optical spatial solitary waves (nematicons) in liquid crystal light valves with nematic liquid crystals and a photoconductive layer. The latter allows to all-optically varying the birefringent walk-off and the extraordinary-wave refractive index, hence, the trajectory of a nematicon propagating in the thickness of the valve.