Abstract

We have formulated composites of lead (II) tetrakis (4-cumylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (PbTCPc) doped into nematic liquid crystal (LC), $4^{\prime }$-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (5-CB), that has received a $90°$ twisted alignment and investigated the nonlinear transmission properties using both pulsed (Nd:YLF $524\mathrm{nm}$, $5\mathrm{ns}$) and cw ($532\mathrm{nm}$) lasers. In the nanosecond regime, this compound is a reverse saturable absorber performing similarly to low-concentration solutions of PbTCPc. Under cw conditions, we observe optically self-activated polarization switching with low threshold input energy. Our results suggest the potential for an all-optical switch working from the nanosecond time scale to cw.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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