Observation of speckle instability in Kerr random media

S. Residori, U. Bortolozzo, P. Sebbah

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The first experimental evidence of speckle instability is realized by using a liquid crystal cell with a photosensitive wall. The light is transversally scattered in the liquid crystal cell, where a two-dimensional controlled disorder is imprinted through suitable illuminations of the photoconductive wall and the nonlinearity is obtained through optical reorientation of the liquid crystal molecules. Above a critical threshold of the input intensity, the speckle pattern starts spontaneously to oscillate with a characteristic frequency related to the response time of the nonlinear medium. Moreover, the oscillation threshold depends on the scattering mean free path, thus, confirming the crucial role played by disorder in inducing the instability.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComplex Light and Optical Forces VI
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
EventComplex Light and Optical Forces VI - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: 25 Jan 201226 Jan 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8274

Conference

ConferenceComplex Light and Optical Forces VI
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period25/01/1226/01/12

Keywords

  • Optical instabilities
  • disorder
  • liquid crystals
  • orientational Kerr effect
  • speckle instability

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Observation of speckle instability in Kerr random media'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this