Effect of preparation parameters on the performance of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals for laser emission

We examine the temperature-dependent reflection shifts, microscopic morphology, and laser emission of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals. The preparation parameters, including the concentration of photo-initiator and laser dye, are evaluated and their influence on reflection band is considered not to be ignorable. Inadequate ultraviolet (UV) curing time less than the required value to fully photo-polymerize the monomer can also influence the spectral position and shape of the reflection band but still favor possible band-edge lasing, whereas extending UV curing duration can weaken and eventually eliminate the laser emission. The behaviors are explained using the results derived from the mean field theory