Photonic devices liquid crystal orientation

The Fredericks transition plays a fundamental role in the operation of many liquid crystal displays because the director orientation can be controlled easily by applying an external magnetic or electric field. One striking feature is that the magnitude of the Fredericks threshold voltage is essential to the operation of many liquid-crystal devices. If the Fredericks threshold voltage could be reduced reliably, this would make it possible for the manufacture of very low-power liquid crystal displays and other liquid-crystalline devices. The Fredericks transition can also be employed to achieve tunable all-optical switching and diode operation in the photonic devices (Miroshnichenko et al. 2006). 

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