Spectral position control of dye absorption band maximum in an orienting matrix

Abstract

The continuous control of the maximum position ν_α of the dye absorption band (the zero of the derivative dD _α(ν)/dν of the cell's optical density D _α(ν)) in a nematic matrix is demonstrated experimentally, as a result of changing the angle α between the optical axis of a planar-oriented sample and the plane of polarization of absorbed light incident normal to the optical axis. The theory proposed describes quantitatively the experimental dependence ν(α). The rotation of the polarizer with given frequency ω results in the spectral position modulation of the solute band maximum ν(ω) within ν(α=0°)−ν(90°)=700 cm⁻¹.