Optical near-field excitation using liquid crystals on nanostructured photoreactive molecular thin films

Optical near-field excitations were investigated on the basis of molecular alignment control of liquid crystals (LCs) on an optically rewritable nanostructure of photoreactive molecular thin films. Twisted nematic (TN) cells of LC molecules were constructed utilizing ITO substrates with 260 nm grati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy mechanics & astronomy, 2012-08, Vol.55 (8), p.1351-1355
Main Authors: Ohdaira, Yasuo, Shinbo, Kazunari, Baba, Akira, Kato, Keizo, Kaneko, Futao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectra
Alignment
Astronomy
Azo compounds
Classical and Continuum Physics
Crystals
Evanescent waves
Evaporation
Excitation
Liquid crystals
Nanowires
Near fields
Observations and Techniques
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Plasmons
Substrates
Thin films
Vacuum evaporation
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Summary:Optical near-field excitations were investigated on the basis of molecular alignment control of liquid crystals (LCs) on an optically rewritable nanostructure of photoreactive molecular thin films. Twisted nematic (TN) cells of LC molecules were constructed utilizing ITO substrates with 260 nm gratings of an azobenzene molecular thin film, fabricated using standing evanescent waves. The polarization changes of light transmitted through the TN cells, which were due to the alignment changes of LC molecules locally rubbed by the azobenzene nanogratings, were observed. Furthermore, we demonstrated local plasmon excitation of Au nanowires deposited on the azobenzene nanogratings using oblique vacuum evaporation, a phenomenon that produced strong anti-optical absorption spectra. The modulation of the local plasmon resonance in metallic nanowires decorated with LC molecules was confirmed.
ISSN:1674-7348
1869-1927
DOI:10.1007/s11433-012-4754-1