Self-electrooptic-device

Concerning potential applications we considered only all-optical nonlinear effects. It should be mentioned that liquid crystals can be utilized in the so-called self-electrooptic-devices (SEED) too. In these devices there is an electrical feedback of the transmitted light to the layer. Such systems can be constructed by combining a photoconducting layer with a liquid crystal film. Ferroelectric liquid crystals are especially suitable for this purpose and may represent an alternative to the multiple quantum-well structures on which SEED-s are normally based. Whether all-optical effects will find a widespread application is still an open question. 

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