Zero voltage Freedericksz transition in periodically aligned liquid crystals

Patterned alignment layers have been created through an approach using polarization holography and a photopolymerizable alignment layer. This technique enables continuously periodic boundary conditions on planar surfaces. Polarization gratings have been created using polarization interference from incident right-handed and left-handed circular polarization exposure conditions. A simple phenomenological model is derived to show that the Freedericksz threshold voltage vanishes when the cell gap and grating pitch are comparable. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.