ABSTRACT
We compare the emission characteristics of a thin-film liquid crystal (LC) laser created using a polymer-stabilized, dye-doped chiral nematic LC to that of an LC laser that was fabricated using an achiral, dye-doped nematic refilled into a chiral polymer scaffold that was templated from the same chiral nematic host. Both lasers exhibit wavelength tuning upon the application of an external electric field. However, for the templated sample, tuning is found to occur across a broader wavelength-range for the same electric field amplitude. We discuss the benefits of the templated approach and how it can be used to circumvent dye bleaching that may occur during photo-polymerisation.
Acknowledgments
SMM gratefully acknowledges the financial support of The Royal Society and SMW acknowledges the EPSRC for a Studentship.