Lattice deformation coupling of the electro-optic Kerr effect in liquid crystalline cholesteric blue phases

Abstract

The electro-optic Kerr effect in cholesteric blue phase liquid crystals is known to occur on sub-millisecond time scales, which is much faster than director reorientation in nematic liquid crystals. Using two-beam interference microscopy, we report the presence of a very slow response in the Kerr effect, with a characteristic time of several seconds or more. Using a simplified model for the reorientation dynamics, we attribute the slow response to the coupling between the local director reorientation and field-induced deformation of the lattice. We provide evidence for our argument by showing that the slow response can be removed by inhibiting lattice deformation through polymer stabilization.