Isothiocyanato-Tolanes Based High Birefringence and Fast Response Time Mixtures for Photonic Applications.

We have developed some high birefringence (Δ n ∼⃒ 0.3 at λ = 633 nm) and relatively low viscosity nematic mixtures using isothiocyanato tolanes. These mixtures exhibit a high figure-of-merit (FoM) which is desirable for reducing the device response time. Using such a high FoM liquid crystal mixture in a 2-μm homogeneous cell, we demonstrate a 1π phase modulator at λ = 633 nm with submillisecond response time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]