| 摘要 |
Apparatus (10) for responding to incident electromagnetic radiation (16) to prevent direct transmission thereof when the magnitude of E-vector exceeds a predetermined value includes a first medium (12) through which incident electromagnetic radiation may be transmitted and smectic liquid crystal (14) positioned with respect to the first medium for responding to such E-vector to undergo Kerr effect in proportion to such E-vector so as to cooperate with such first medium to effect refraction of such electromagnetic radiation at an interface of the first medium and liquid crystal to prevent direct transmission of such radiation when the E-vector exceeds such predetermined magnitude. Smectic to nematic phase transition also may be used to prevent direct light transmission when incident radiation causes heating in the liquid crystal material. A method for responding to incident electromagnetic radiation to prevent transmission when the E-vector of such radiation exceeds a predetermined magnitude for short pulses of such radiation includes receiving incident electromagnetic radiation, directing such incident electromagnetic radiation into a first medium through which incident electromagnetic radiation may be transmitted, using smectic liquid crystal positioned with respect to the first medium for responding to a characteristic of the incident electromagnetic radiation to cooperate with such first medium to effect refraction of such electromagnetic radiation at an interface of the first medium and the liquid crystal.
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