Photo-Induced Deformations of Liquid Crystal Elastomers

ORAL

Abstract

Over a century ago, Alexander Graham Bell transmitted mechanical information on a beam of light using the ``photophone.'' We report on the use of a Fabry-Perot interferometer to encode and detect mechanical information of an illuminated liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) that is placed at a critical point between the reflectors. Furthermore, we show that cascading of macroscopic LCE-interferometer devices is possible. These are the first steps in the creation of ultra smart materials. Such applications require materials with a large photomechanical response. Thus, understanding the underlying mechanisms is critical. Only limited studies of the mechanisms of photomechanical effects have been studied in azo-dye-doped LCEs. The focus of our present work is to use the Fabry-Perot transducer geometry to study the underlying mechanisms and to determine the relevant material parameters that are used to develop theoretical models of the response. We use various intensity-modulated optical wave forms to determine the frequency response of the material, which are used to predict the material response in the time domain.

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Authors

  • Nathan Dawson

    Washington State University

  • Mark Kuzyk

    Washington State University

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center