An Introduction to Liquid Crystals

Description

Practically every display technology in use today relies on the flat, energy-efficient construction made possible by liquid crystals. These displays provide visually-crisp, vibrantly-colored images that a short time ago were thought only possible in science fiction. Liquid crystals are known mainly for their use in display technologies, but they also provide many diverse and useful applications: adaptive optics, electro-optical devices, films, lasers, photovoltaics, privacy windows, skin cleansers and soaps, and thermometers. The striking images of liquid crystals changing color under polarized lighting conditions are even on display in many museums and art galleries - true examples of 'science meeting art'. Although liquid crystals provide us with visually stunning displays, fascinating applications, and are a rich and fruitful source of interdisciplinary research, their full potential may yet remain untapped. PRELIMS.pdf Preface References Acknowledgments Biographies of the Author and Editor Gregory Anthony DiLisi James Joseph DeLuca CH001.pdf Chapter 1 History References CH002.pdf Chapter 2 Mesophases of matter 2.1 Solid versus liquid 2.2 One-dimensional ordering (the smectic phase) 2.3 Positional or orientational order in anisotropic molecules 2.3.1 Maintaining positional order (plastic crystals) 2.3.2 Maintaining orientational order (the nematic phase) References CH003.pdf Chapter 3 Classifications of liquid crystals 3.1 Anisotropy is the key! 3.2 Mechanisms of transition 3.3 Shape 3.3.1 Small organic molecules 3.3.2 Rods in a liquid substrate 3.3.3 Amphiphilic compounds and associated structures 3.4 Molar mass 3.4.1 Main-chain polymer liquid crystals 3.4.2 Side-chain polymer liquid crystals 3.4.3 Oligomeric liquid crystals 3.5 Symmetry References CH004.pdf Chapter 4 Phases of liquid crystals 4.1 Birefringence and the polarized optical microscope 4.2 Isotropic phase 4.3 Nematic phase 4.4 Cholesteric or helical phase 4.5 Smectic phases 4.5.1 Smectic A phase 4.5.2 Smectic C phase 4.6 Other liquid crystal phases References CH005.pdf Chapter 5 Experimental techniques 5.1 Boundary effects—surface preparation 5.2 Constructing a sample holder and determining the sample thickness 5.3 Loading the sample 5.4 Optical characterization 5.4.1 Measuring the average (isotropic) refractive index 5.4.2 Measuring the birefringence 5.4.3 Measuring the ordinary refractive index 5.5 Elastic distortions References