Biomedical subjects

E Benkler

Publications and source records attributed to E Benkler.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Manipulation and removal of defects in spontaneous optical patterns.

Defects play an important role in a number of fields dealing with ordered structures. We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally the possibility of an active manipulation of defects in terms of an externally induced motion. We focus on the spontaneous formation of two-dimensional spatial structures in a nonlinear-optical system, a liquid crystal light valve under single optical feedback. For a particular parameter setting, a spontaneously formed hexagonal intensity pattern contains several dislocation-type defects. A scheme based on Fourier filtering allows us to restore spatial order in a selectable part of the pattern. Starting without control, the controlled area is progressively expanded, such that defects are swept out of the pattern.

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PubMed2003

Molecular reorientation by photoinduced modulation of rotational mobility.

To explain the large photoinduced molecular reorientation phenomena observed in dye-doped liquids and liquid crystals, the hypothesis was formed that the rotational mobility of dye molecules is strongly altered during their electronic excitation. Here, we report the direct measurement of a 30%-50% mobility decrease of photoexcited anthraquinone dye molecules dissolved in a cyanophenyl liquid host. This mobility reduction is ascribed to an excited-state reinforcement of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. These results provide fully independent evidence for the validity of current models of the photoinduced reorientation and a working demonstration of the design concepts of "fluctuating-friction" molecular motors. We propose that a light-induced modulation of molecular mobility associated with electronic photoexcitation is of general relevance to the behavior of photosensitive organic materials, currently investigated for applications in optical data storage, liquid-crystal displays, and organic optoelectronic devices.

Anthraquinones↗

PubMed2002

Empirical bifurcation analysis of optical pattern formation.

The experimental characterization of pattern forming bifurcations is difficult, since the unstable solutions are generally not accessible in experiments. In nonlinear optics, a novel control scheme allows one to select and stabilize generic patterns and thus to track these solutions in parameter space. This Fourier space scheme is applied to a single-feedback system and the amplitudes of roll, square and hexagon patterns are determined experimentally. Even though the bifurcation is imperfect, the coefficients of a prototype amplitude equation are recovered. The coefficients show satisfactory agreement with theory and with numerical simulations, which are performed for comparison. The simulations also clarify the origin of the imperfect bifurcation in the experiment: boundaries and speckles appear to have an unexpected strong influence.

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PubMed2002

Tailoring the profile and interactions of optical localized structures.

We experimentally demonstrate the broad tunability of the main features of optical localized structures (LS's) in a nonlinear interferometer. By discussing how a single LS depends on the system spatial frequency bandwidth, we show that a modification of its tail leads to the possibility of tuning the interactions between LS pairs, and thus the equilibrium distances at which LS bound states form. This is in agreement with a general theoretical model describing weak interactions of LS in nonlinear dissipative systems.

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PubMed2000

Optically induced periodic structures in smectic-C liquid crystals.

We explore periodic structures of smectic-C (SmC) liquid crystals, induced optically by a polarization grating. The studied cells contain a passive surface of rubbed polyimide and an active photosensitive substrate of azo-dye doped polyimide. In a nematic phase the director field can be periodic independent of the angle between the grating vector and the rubbing direction. In the SmA phase periodic structure can be induced only by layer undulations. The SmC behaves similarly to the nematic phase, but the director can rotate only on a cone, which results in a more complex geometry. The periodic pattern is superimposed with four different director and layer structures. In spite of the coexistence of the nonuniform structures the diffraction efficiency is better in the SmC, than in the nematic phase.

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PubMed2000

Experimental control of unstable patterns and elimination of spatiotemporal disorder in nonlinear optics

A method based on Fourier filtered control signals for stabilization of unstable patterns in a nonlinear optical single feedback system is experimentally realized. The successful stabilization of the homogeneous solution and different stationary periodic patterns far above the pattern forming threshold as well as the elimination of spatiotemporal disorder above a secondary instability has been achieved. The temporal evolution of the control signal verifies the underlying philosophy of noninvasive control that changes only the linear stability of the systems' solution and not the solution itself.

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