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Dynamics and uniformity of reorientation in liquid crystal cells with PVK alignment layers

Andriy Dyadyusha ,Malgosia Kaczmarek ,Sergei S. Slussarenko ²
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, UK ²3Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences,Kiev, Ukraine
We present experimental results on dynamics of Freedericksz transition in liquid crystal cells with alignment layers made of poly(N-vinyl carbazole). DC electric field causes the build-up of, unusually strong, surface charge layers on a liquid crystal-polymer interface that screen liquid crystals from the external field. The process of surface charge build-up and discharge in illuminated areas takes place due to low dark conductivity and high photoconductivity of poly(N-vinyl carbazole), rather than due to its photorefractive nature. If the illuminating beam has a Gaussian profile, reorientation starts from a very small volume, with a clear disclination line in the reorientation spot.

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