摘要 |
<p>Persistent director axis reorientation is induced by a liquid crystal film (10) in response to a projected optical image by a method that includes the following steps: applying a dc potential (20) across the liquid crystal film (10); exposing the liquid crystal film (10) to a spatially varying optical intensity (26 and 28) which, in combination with the dc potential (20), produces a spatially varying dc current flow and a spatial charge field in accordance with the intensity variation of an optical image, the spatial charge field resulting in persistent refractive index changes in the liquid crystal film (10); and removing the dc potential (20) and spatially varying optical intensity (26 and 28). To retrieve the image that is 'stored' in the liquid crystal film (10), the liquid crystal material is illuminated with a monochromatic optical beam. With certain liquid crystal films (10), reapplication of the dc potential (20) combined, application of the optical illumination results in retrieval of the stored optical image.</p> |