Abstract

We have examined pure nematic liquid crystal (LC), 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (5-CB), with a $90°$ twisted alignment within a cell made of two cross-polarized absorptive plastic polarizers, and investigated the nonlinear transmission properties using cw ($532\mathrm{nm}$) lasers. We observed optically self-activated polarization switching with a factor of three lower switching power than a dye-doped LC cell with similar linear transmittance using glass substrates. We also studied the dynamics of the switching processes and observed millisecond switching time. These studies have demonstrated a simpler but more efficient way for fabricating broadband, low switching power, millisecond time scale switching, and optical limiting devices.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

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