Shin-Tson Wu is a provost-distinguished Professor of Optics at the College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida.Deng-Ke Yang, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242Deng-Ke Yang is currently Professor of the Chemical Physics Program at Kent State University.

Liquid Crystal Devices are crucial and ubiquitous components of an ever-increasing number of technologies. They are used in everything from cellular phones, eBook readers, GPS devices, computer monitors and automotive displays to projectors and TVs, to name but a few.

Series Editor's Foreword xiii
 
Preface to the First Edition xv
 
Preface to the Second Edition xvii
 
1 Liquid Crystal Physics 1
 
1.1 Introduction 1
 
1.2 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 5
 
1.3 Orientational Order 10
 
1.4 Elastic Properties of Liquid Crystals 21
 
1.5 Response of Liquid Crystals to Electromagnetic Fields 27
 
1.6 Anchoring Effects of Nematic Liquid Crystal at Surfaces 38
 
1.7 Liquid crystal director elastic deformation 40
 
Homework Problems 48
 
References 49
 
2 Propagation of Light in Anisotropic Optical Media 51
 
2.1 Electromagnetic Wave 51
 
2.2 Polarization 54
 
2.3 Propagation of Light in Uniform Anisotropic Optical Media 59
 
2.4 Propagation of Light in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals 72
 
Homework Problems 85
 
References 86
 
3 Optical Modeling Methods 87
 
3.1 Jones Matrix Method 87
 
3.2 Mueller Matrix Method 98
 
3.3 Berreman 4 × 4 Method 113
 
Homework Problems 124
 
References 125
 
4 Effects of Electric Field on Liquid Crystals 127
 
4.1 Dielectric Interaction 127
 
4.2 Flexoelectric Effect 132
 
4.3 Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal 138
 
Homework Problems 146
 
References 147
 
5 Fréedericksz Transition 149
 
5.1 Calculus of Variation 149
 
5.2 Fréedericksz Transition: Statics 153
 
5.3 Measurement of Anchoring Strength 166
 
5.4 Measurement of Pretilt Angle 171
 
5.5 Fréedericksz Transition: Dynamics 175
 
Homework Problems 187
 
References 188
 
6 Liquid Crystal Materials 191
 
6.1 Introduction 191
 
6.2 Refractive Indices 192
 
6.3 Dielectric Constants 201
 
6.4 Rotational Viscosity 204
 
6.5 Elastic Constants 204
 
6.6 Figure-of-Merit (FoM) 205
 
6.7 Index Matching between Liquid Crystals and Polymers 206
 
Homework problems 210
 
References 210
 
7 Modeling Liquid Crystal Director Configuration 213
 
7.1 Electric Energy of Liquid Crystals 213
 
7.2 Modeling Electric Field 218
 
7.3 Simulation of Liquid Crystal Director Configuration 221
 
Homework Problems 232
 
References 232
 
8 Transmissive Liquid Crystal Displays 235
 
8.1 Introduction 235
 
8.2 Twisted Nematic (TN) Cells 236
 
8.3 In-Plane Switching Mode 241
 
8.4 Vertical Alignment Mode 263
 
8.5 Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment Cells 266
 
8.6 Optically Compensated Bend Cell 277
 
Homework Problems 281
 
References 283
 
9 Reflective and Transflective Liquid Crystal Displays 285
 
9.1 Introduction 285
 
9.2 Reflective Liquid Crystal Displays 286
 
9.3 Transflector 290
 
9.4 Classification of Transflective LCDs 293
 
9.5 Dual-Cell-Gap Transflective LCDs 312
 
9.6 Single-Cell-Gap Transflective LCDs 314
 
9.7 Performance of Transflective LCDs 314
 
Homework Problems 316
 
References 316
 
10 Liquid Crystal Display Matrices, Drive Schemes and Bistable Displays 321
 
10.1 Segmented Displays 321
 
10.2 Passive Matrix Displays and Drive Scheme 322
 
10.3 Active Matrix Displays 326
 
10.4 Bistable Ferroelectric LCD and Drive Scheme 330
 
10.5 Bistable Nematic Displays 332
 
10.6 Bistable Cholesteric Reflective Display 342
 
Homework Problems 358
 
References 359
 
11 Liquid Crystal/Polymer Composites 363
 
11.1 Introdu

Liquid Crystal Devices are crucial and ubiquitous components of an ever-increasing number of technologies. They are used in everything from cellular phones, eBook readers, GPS devices, computer monitors and automotive displays to projectors and TVs, to name but a few. This second edition continues to serve as an introductory guide to the fundamental properties of liquid crystals and their technical application, while explicating the recent advancements within LCD technology. This edition includes important new chapters on blue-phase display technology, advancements in LCD research significantly contributed to by the authors themselves.
 
This title is of particular interest to engineers and researchers involved in display technology and graduate students involved in display technology research.
* Key features:
Updated throughout to reflect the latest technical state-of-the-art in LCD research and development, including new chapters and material on topics such as the properties of blue-phase liquid crystal displays and 3D liquid crystal displays;
* Explains the link between the fundamental scientific principles behind liquid crystal technology and their application to photonic devices and displays, providing a thorough understanding of the physics, optics, electro-optics and material aspects of Liquid Crystal Devices;
* Revised material reflecting developments in LCD technology, including updates on optical modelling methods, transmissive LCDs and tunable liquid crystal photonic devices;
* Chapters conclude with detailed homework problems to further cement an understanding of the topic.