Erasable Optical Storage in Bistable Liquid Crystal Cells

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new kind of bistable liquid crystal display (Filled Nematic) using static light scattering, and its application as a high resolution laser-addressed display. The new material consists of small inorganic particles dispersed in a nematic liquid crystal. In dispersion the particles form internal interfaces with a large specific surface making it possible to stabilize different director configurations. We report the key parameters for reversible optical data storage in this medium and give a first explanation of the physical mechanism of the laser-writing process.