A major area of research recently has been the study of nonlinear waves in liquid crystals. The availability of commercial liquid crystals and the formation of solitons at mWpower levels has meant that experimental research and the need to understand how the solitons are formed and interact has been boosted. The first part of the thesis looks at how two laser beams in a nematic liquid crystal interact. Specifically research has centred on the problem of directing a signal beam to a target area by varying the input angle of the control beam. Different approximate models are developed to describe this phenomena, with the results from these models compared to a full numerical analysis. The first model developed is called the particle model and is based on the unmodified modulation equations. The results from this model were acceptable when compared with the results obtained from a full numerical analysis. This comparison is indicative that the underlying assumptions of the model did not capture an essential part of interaction between the two laser beams. The second model used to describe the interaction between the two laser beams was based on the law of conservation of momentum in the laser beams. Here the potential between the laser beams was modified to take into account the profile of the beams. The results from this model were in excellent agreement with results from the full numerical analysis, showing the key role potential between the beams plays in the trajectories of the beams. The interaction between dark solitons was also studied. The model used in this case was based on the modulation equations with a suitable trial function for dark solitons. The results from this model were in excellent agreement with the results from the full numerical analysis. The behaviour of the dark solitons shown by the approximate model and the full numerical analysis showing similar key features. This thesis sets out the equations describing the interaction of laser beams in liquid crystals. These are the equations used to carry out a full numerical analysis. This analysis is valuable in its own right and is the standard to compare the results obtained from other models but to achieve a deeper understanding of how laser beams interact in liquid crystals approximate models are developed so that the important parameters in each model can be identified. The Lagrangian describing the interaction of laser beams in liquid crystals is used in all the approximate models. The approximate models can then be developed through the use of suitable trial functions that adequately describe how the laser beams interact. The derivation of the equations and how these equations are solved is described for each model. The results from each model are compared to a full numerical analysis with a discussion of how the results compare.

In the present work, we study the effects of external fields and surfaces on liquid-crystalline systems. Initially, we investigate the effects caused by the addition of ferroelectric nanoparticles in a nematic liquid crystal. Using the technique of molecular dynamics simulation, we estimate the density of liquid crystal molecules, the orientational order parameter, and the polar and azimuthal angle profiles as a function of the distance to the center of the immersed nanoparticle for different temperatures of the system. We observe that the presence of ferroelectric nanoparticles enhance the nematic order of the liquid-crystalline medium changing many properties above the transition temperature Tn — Iso. In the second moment, we determine the interaction mediated by elastic deformations between colloidal nanoparticles adsorbed on the surface of free-standing smectic films. In these films, the elastic-mediated force between the adsorbed particles have a long-range character, which contrasts with the character of short-range in films on a solid substrate. The study of phase transitions and critical phenomena in free-standing smectic films has been a subject of many theoretical and experimental works. The McMillan-Miranstsev mean-field approach was used to show that the additional orientational order imposed by the surface anchoring stabilizes the surface-induced smectic siSmA and nematic N phases, leading to he collapse of the tricritical point and to the emergence of a critical end point. Usually strongly anchored free-standing smectic exhibit a stepwise reduction in the thickness when the temperature is raised above the smectic-isotropic bulk transition temperature. In this study, we demonstrate that a layer trinning transition, induced by and external field, can occur in smectic films with negative dielectric anisotropy even below the bulk transition temperature. Using an extended McMillian's model, we show that when the field increases above the bulk transition field, the film thickness reduction is well described by a power law. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / No presente trabalho, estudamos os efeitos de superfícies e campos externos em sistemas líquido-cristalinos. Inicialmente, investigamos os feitos causados pela adição de nanopartículas ferroeléticas em um cristal líquido nemático. Utilizando a técnica de simulação por dinâmica molecular, estimamos a densidade de moléculas do cristal líquido, o parâmetro de ordem orientacional e os perfis dos ângulos polar e azimutal em função da distância ao centro da nanopartícula imersa. Foram consideradas diferentes temperaturas do sistema. Pudemos observar que a presença das nanopartículas ferroelétricas favorece a ordem nemática do meio líquido-cristalino, alterando muitas propriedades do meio acima da temperatura de transição Tn-Iso. Num segundo momento, determinamos a interação, mediada por deformações elásticas, entre nanopartículas coloidais adsorvidas em filmes esméticos livremente suspensos. Nesses filmes, a força de interação entre as partículas adsorvidas tem um caráter de longo alcance, o que contrasta com o comportamento de curto alcance em filmes sobre um substrato sólido. O estudo das transições de fase e fenômenos críticos em filmes esméticos livremente suspensos têm sido objeto de estudo de vários trabalhos teóricos e experimentais. Dentro desse contexto, nós estudamos a transição de fases esmética-nemática (SmA — N) que ocorre no centro de um filme livremente suspenso sujeito a um forte ancoramento superficial, promovido pelo gás ao seu redor. A aproximação de campo médio de McMillan-Mirantsev foi utilizada para mostrar que a ordem orientacional, imposta pelo ancoramento superficial, estabiliza as fases esmética induzida pela superfície (siSmA) e nemática (N), levando ao colapso do ponto tricrítico e ao aparecimento de um ponto crítico terminal. Usualmente, filmes esméticos livremente suspensos e fortemente ancorados apresentam uma redução camada por camada na espessura quando a temperatura aumenta acima da temperatura da transição esmético-isotrópico. Nesse trabalho, nós demostramos que uma transição por redução de camadas, induzida por um campo externo, pode ocorrer em filmes esméticos com anisotropia negativa, mesmo em temperaturas abaixo da temperatura de transição do bulk. Utilizando o mesmo modelo extendido de McMillan, nós mostramos que quando o campo cresce acima do valor do campo crítico, a redução da espessura do filme é bem descrita por uma lei de potência.

Consideramos o modelo de Maier-Saupe com a discretização de Zwanzig para as possíveis orientações das moléculas de cristais líquidos nemáticos. Esse modelo reproduz a transição de fases nemático-isotrópica dos cristais líquidos termotrópicos em acordo com a teoria fenomenológica de Maier e Saupe. Introduzimos variáveis desordenadas de forma a fim de descrever uma eventual estrutura biaxial em uma mistura binária de moléculas uniaxiais oblatas e prolatas. Para uma desordem do tipo quenched, o diagrama de fases do modelo possui uma fase nemática biaxial estável. Para uma desordem do tipo annealed, a estrutura biaxial é termodinamicamente instável. Esses resultados são confirmados realizando um contato com a teoria de Landau-de Gennes. Para ganhar intimidade com os cálculos estatísticos estudamos também um modelo para uma mistura binária de magnetos de Ising na rede. Para ir além dos resultados de campo médio, formulamos o modelo de Maier-Saupe discretizado na rede de Bethe. A análise desse problema é realizada através das relações de recorrência para a função de partição. A transição nemático-isotrópica é localizada através de uma expressão para a energia livre obtida pelo engenhoso método de Gujrati. Considerando o problema das misturas binárias de moléculas nemáticas e utilizando o formalismo adequado à fluidez das partículas annealed, tanto uma análise de estabilidade linear das relações de recorrência quanto uma análise termodinâmica proibem a existência da fase nemática biaxial. / We consider the Maier-Saupe model with the Zwanzig restriction for the orientations of the liquid-crystalline molecules. This model describes the nematic-isotropic phase transition of the thermotropic liquid-crystals. In order to study an elusive biaxial structure on a binary mixture of rods and discs, we add new disordered shape variables. For a quenched distribution of shapes, the system displays a stable biaxial nematic phase. For a thermalized distribution of shapes, however, the biaxial structure is forbidden. These results are confirmed through a connection with the Landau-de Gennes theory. To gain confidence in the use of these techniques, we also studied a model for a binary mixture of Ising magnets on a lattice. In order to go beyond the mean-field calculations, we consider the discretized Maier- Saupe (-Zwanzig) model on a Bethe lattice. The analysis of the problem is performed by the iteration of some recurrence relations. The isotropic-nematic phase transition is determined through the free energy that comes from the Gujrati method. For the problem of a binary mixture of prolate and oblate molecules, using a formalism suitable for the fluidity of the nematic molecules, we show that both thermodynamic and dynamic analyses of stability preclude the existence of a nematic biaxial phase.

Misturas liotrópicas de laurato de potássio (KL)/ sulfato de potássio (K2SO4)/ álcool (CnH2n+1OH)/ água (H2O) apresentam fases no estado líquido cristalino nemático. Essas fases nemáticas foram colesterizadas através da adicão do agente quiral brucina à mistura. Este estudo foi realizado mantendo as frações molares de todos os constituintes das misturas constantes e variando o comprimento da mol´ecula de álcool entre oito (1-octanol) e dezesseis (1-hexadecanol) átomos de carbono. Três fases colestéricas foram identificadas: ChD (colestérica discótica), ChB (colestérica biaxial) e ChC (colestérica calamítica). O diagrama de fases foi construído em função do número de átomos de carbono n na molécula do álcool. As transições entre as fases colestéricas foram investigadas por medições das birrenfringências ópticas usando microscopia óptica de luz polarizada. As misturas com 9 n 12 apresentaram as três fases colestéricas como função da temperatura e uma região de crossover entre as fases ChD e ChB, com comprimento de correlação a temperatura nula maior do que as dimensões micelares típicas. Misturas com n=8 e n=13 apresentaram transição de fase de primeira ordem entre as fases ChD e ChC, sem a presença da fase ChB intermediária a elas. As misturas com n=14, 15 e 16 apresentaram somente a fase ChC como função da temperatura. Os resultados foram interpretados como consequência da nanosegregação das moléculas de álcool nas micelas com relação às moléculas do anfifílico principal. / Lyotropic mixtures of potassium laurate (KL)/ potassium sulphate (K2SO4)/ alcohol (CnH2n+1OH)/ water (H2O) present nematic liquid crystal phases. These nematic phases were cholesterized by the doping of the mixtures with the chiral agent brucine. This study was conducted by keeping constant the molar fractions of all constituents of the mixtures and varying the length of the alcohol molecule between eight (1-octanol) and sixteen (1-hexadecanol) carbon atoms. Three cholesteric phases were identified: ChD (discotic cholesteric), ChB (biaxial cholesteric), and ChC (calamitic cholesteric). The phase diagram was constructed as a function of the number of carbon atoms n in the alcohol molecule. The cholesteric-cholesteric phase transitions were investigated by measurements of the optical birefringences via polarized light microscopy. The mixtures with 9 n 12 presented the three cholesteric phases as a function of temperature and a crossover between the ChD and ChB phases, with a bare correlation length larger than the typical micellar dimensions. Mixtures with n =8 and n =13 exhibited first order phase transitions among the ChD and the ChC phases, without the presence of the intermediate ChB phase. Mixtures with n =14, 15 and 16 showed only the ChC phase as a function of temperature. These results were interpreted as a consequence of the nanosegregation of the alcohol molecules in the micelles with respect to the main amphiphilic molecules.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:37:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Rubens Xavier Bartholomei.pdf: 4061609 bytes, checksum: da657a031051b1f1a9571a34df2312ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-07 / The bakery uses forms of carbon steel coated with nonstick layer and these forms have a lifespan of 10,000 cycles of production (3 years to 3.5 years) and are expensive. In order to reduce this cost, these industries could replace conventional forms by forms of a commercial liquid crystal polymer, Vectra E540i. The present study evaluated the mechanical and physicochemical properties of this polymer, in view of this replacement, without prejudice to the quality of the bread obtained. Because of the need to use forms in an oven at high temperature, the samples were subjected to heat treatment at various temperatures above and below the temperature of cooking in the oven and then observed the effect of temperature on tensile strength and hardness of the material. Tests of degradation by ultraviolet (UV) were also conducted and found its effect on the tensile strength and impact. In these laboratory tests, the resistance of the forms and quality of bread were tested in a pilot plant. The results show that there is no degradation after constant exposure to UV radiation for 80 days and the tensile strength and impact were not affected. There were no significant changes in mechanical properties due to heating. It was observed that no major changes in mechanical properties due to heating in the polymer are subjected during its passage in the oven. At these temperatures, the mechanical properties mentioned are lower than expected. In a pilot scale, the quality of bread has not changed. From this study, the Company may decide to continue using the current metallic forms or replace them with forms of liquid crystal polymer Vectra E540i. / As indústrias de panificação usam formas de aço carbono revestidas com camada antiaderente sendo que estas formas têm uma vida útil de 10.000 ciclos de produção (3 anos a 3,5 anos) e tem custo elevado. Com o intuito de diminuir este custo, estas indústrias poderiam substituir as formas convencionais por formas a base de um polímero de cristal líquido comercial, Vectra E540i. Neste trabalho foram avaliadas as propriedades mecânicas e físico-químicas deste polímero, tendo em vista esta substituição, sem prejuízo da qualidade do pão obtido. Devido à necessidade de se usar as formas num forno com temperaturas elevadas, as amostras foram submetidas a tratamento térmico em várias temperaturas, acima e abaixo das temperaturas do cozimento no forno e, posteriormente, foi verificado o efeito da temperatura na resistência à tração e na dureza do material. Também foram realizados ensaios de degradação por radiação ultravioleta (UV) e verificou-se seu efeito sobre a resistência a tração e impacto. Além destes ensaios laboratoriais, a resistência das formas e a qualidade do pão foram testadas numa planta piloto. Os resultados mostram que não há degradação frente à radiação UV, após exposição constante durante 80 dias, bem como as resistências à tração e ao impacto não foram afetadas. Observou-se que não há grandes alterações nas propriedades mecânicas devido ao aquecimento em que o polímero é submetido durante a sua passagem dentro do forno. Amostras aquecidas em temperaturas acima de 275ºC apresentaram a formação de bolhas visíveis a olho nu, sugerindo degradação térmica do polímero. Nestas temperaturas, as propriedades mecânicas citadas apresentam valores inferiores aos esperados. Em escala piloto, a qualidade do pão não se alterou A partir deste estudo a Empresa poderá tomar a decisão de continuar a utilizar as atuais formas metálicas ou substituir por formas a base do polímero de cristal líquido comercial Vectra E540i.

A Terapia Fotodinâmica (TFD) é uma modalidade de tratamento de câncer relativamente nova e promissora. Baseia-se na utilização de uma substância fotossensibilizante e luz para provocar um dano seletivo ao tecido alvo, sendo que a seletividade ao órgão/tecido deve ser reconhecida como uma das vantagens no tratamento do câncer. Atualmente, o desenvolvimento de sistemas de liberação e promotores de absorção visando a otimização da liberação tópica de fotossensibilizadores, apresenta-se como um promissor e inexplorado campo de pesquisa na TFD do câncer de pele. Sistemas de liberação compostos por monoleína, um lipídeo polar biocompatível, e água são capazes de aumentar a permeação de fármacos na pele, além de serem capazes de controlar a liberação dos mesmos. No presente estudo foram desenvolvidas e caracterizadas nanodispersões de cristais líquidos como sistemas de liberação para os fotossensibilizadores Protoporfirina IX (PpIX) e Ftalocianinas de Zinco (ZnPc) e Cloro Alumínio (ClAlPc), objetivando otimizar a penetração cutânea destes na epiderme. As nanodispersões foram avaliadas em relação a sua eficiência de encapsulação, estabilidade física e química dos fotosensibilizadores veiculados, bem como a permeação e retenção cutânea in vitro e in vivo por microscopia de fluorescência. Estudos de pré-tratamento foram realizados, objetivando-se verificar o efeito promotor de absorção cutânea das nanodispersões desenvolvidas. Os experimentos de eficiência de encapsulação e estabilidade mostraram que as nanodispersões são um sistema de liberação adequado a aplicação tópica de fotosensibilizadores. Os experimentos in vitro mostraram que as nanodispersões aumentaram a penetração cutânea da PpIX e ClAlPc no estrato córneo em, respectivamente, 3,4 e 11,7 vezes, quando comparadas a formulação controle. Na epiderme mais derme sem estrato córneo, os aumentos promovidos pelas nanodispersões foram de 6,5 e 9,7 vezes para a PpIX e ClAlPc. No experimento in vivo as nanodispersões aumentaram a penetração cutânea da PpIX e ClAlPc no estrato córneo em, respectivamente, 13,7 e 7,0 vezes, quando comparadas ao controle, sendo que na epiderme mais derme sem estrato córneo somente as nanodispersões foram capazes de promover a penetração cutânea destes fotossensibilizadores nestas camadas da pele. A visualização da penetração cutânea dos fotosensibilizadores por microscopia de florescência confirmou os resultados obtidos nos experimentos in vivo de que as nanodispersões foram superiores ao controle em aumentar a penetração cutânea da PpIX e ClAlPc em camadas mais profundas da pele. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as nanodispersões desenvolvidas são sistemas de liberação promissores para a PpIX e ClAlPc no tratamento do câncer de pele na TFD uma vez que aumentaram in vitro e in vivo a penetração cutânea destes na epiderme. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new and promising cancer treatment modality that involves the administration of a photosensitizing drug and its subsequent activation by light to produce activated oxygen species that selectively destroy target cells. Recently, PDT to treat skin cancer is focused on the development of drug delivery systems and penetration enhancers that aim to optimize the topical release of photosensitizers. Drug delivery systems based on monoolein, a biocompatible polar lipid, and water are able to enhance the cutaneous penetration of drugs and control their release. Liquid crystal nanodispersions were developed and characterized in this project as delivery systems for the photosensitizers Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and Zinc and Chloroaluminum phthalocyanines (ZnPc and ClAlPc), aiming to increase their topical penetration in the epidermis. The physical stability of the nanodispersions, their encapsulation efficiency and the chemical stability of the photosensitizers incorporated were tested. In vitro and in vivo skin penetration tests were performed to verify the efficacy of the nanodispersions in enhancing the topical delivery of the photosensitizers. In vitro pre-treatment tests were conducted to determine if the nanodispersions are able to increase the skin penetration of the photosensitizers by a penetration enhancing effect. Stability and encapsulation efficiency tests showed that nanodispersions are an adequate topical delivery system for photosensitizers. In vitro experiments showed increased PpIX and ClAlPc penetration in the stratum corneum, respectively, of 6.5- and 9.7-fold for the nanodispersions compared to the control. In the epidermis with dermis, without stratum corneum, the increase promoted by the nanodispersions for PpIX and ClAlPc were, respectively, of 6.5- and 9.7-fold. Experimental retention in vivo confirmed that when the nanodispersions were used as carrier, PpIX and ClAlPc concentrations in the stratum corneum were about 13.7- and 7.0-fold higher, respectively, than control. In the epidermis with dermis, without stratum corneum, only the nanodispersions were able to promote the skin penetration of these photosensitizers. Visualization of PpIX and ClAlPc skin penetration by fluorescence microscopy confirmed that the nanodispersions increased the skin penetration of these photosensitizers in deeper skin layers. The results showed that the nanodispersions are promising topical delivery systems in the PDT of skin cancer once they increased in vitro and in vivo the topical penetration of PpIX and ClAlPc in the epidermis.

Ces travaux de thèse ont porté sur des matériaux constitués de dispersions de particules colloïdales nanométriques, issues d'un matériau ferroélectrique, dans un cristal liquide chiral à phase smectique ferroélectrique. Ils ont pour but d'étudier les effets occasionnés par ces dispersions sur les propriétés du nanocolloïde, notamment celles liées à leur ferroélectricité. Cette étude a montré que les comportements mésomorphes et ferroélectriques de ces matériaux sont conservés. Une baisse de polarisation spontanée ainsi qu'un recul des températures des transitions ont été mis en évidence pour des faibles concentrations en NPs. Une "transition" de ces comportements a été observée pour une concentration critique au-delà de laquelle les particules s'agrègent pour former des amas au sein du milieu cristal liquide. Nous nous sommes intéressés ensuite à deux modes de relaxation diélectriques. Le premier lié aux mouvements de distorsions de l'hélice dans la phase ferroélectrique, le second aux mouvements de compression des couches smectiques de part et d'autre de la transition ferroélectrique-paraélectrique. Les comportements observés semblent être gouvernés par les modifications des propriétés visco-élastiques des nanocolloïdes, occasionnés par l'intercalation des nanoparticules entre les couches smectiques. / The present thesis work concerns materials made of dispersions of nanometric colloidal particles, from a bulk ferroelectric material, dispersed within a chiral smectic phase of a ferroelectric liquid crystal. The goal of this work is to study the effect of the dispersed nanoparticles over the nanocolloïd properties, specially the ones related to ferroelectricity. This study showed no change over mesomorphic and ferroelectric behavior of the materials. A decrease in spontaneous polarization and phase transition temperatures was found for low nanoparticle concentrations. A "transition" of these behaviors was observed for a critical concentration, beyond which, nanoparticles aggregate and form clusters inside the liquid crystal matrix. Afterwards, we have studied two dielectric relaxation modes. The first one related to distorsions of the helix in the ferroelectric phase and the second one to the compression movements of the smectic layers around the ferroelectric-paralectric transition. The observed behaviors seem to be due to modifications of the visco-elastic properties of nanocolloids, produced by intercalation of nanoparticles between the smectic layers.

Nous présentons dans cette thèse une utilisation de la structure dite de stries huileuses présente lors de la compétition entre deux ancrages antagonistes de part et d’autre d’un film sub-micrométrique de cristal liquide en phase smectique pour réaliser le contrôle à l’échelle individuelle de l’orientation d’émetteurs de photons unique ainsi que de l’auto-organisation ultérieure lorsque la concentration est augmentée. La morphologie interne de cette structure est étudiée à l’aide d’observations en microscopie optique polarisée, d’ellipsométrie et de diffraction de rayons X. L’analyse de ces résultats mène au modèle présenté en fin de chapitre 2 caractérisé par la formation d’un réseau de défauts topologiques orientés. Ces stries huileuses sont ensuite utilisées pour permettre l’alignement à l’échelle individuelle de particules semi-conductrices, des dots-in-rods de CdSe:CdS, suivant l’axe principal des défauts. Le chapitre 3 présente l’insertion des particules et la mesure de l’orientation de leur dipôle associé ainsi que celle du degré de polarisation. Le chapitre 4 discute du comportement des particules pour une concentration élevée, avec outre leur orientation leur auto-organisation au sein des stries huileuses. Nous faisons une analyse statistique de la densité des amas formés à la surface d’un échantillon et des informations résultant de la structure des amas sur l’organisation des défauts dans différentes situations. On observe un alignement des nanoparticules à l’échelle unique et en amas, ainsi qu’un maintien ou un renforcement du degré de polarisation mesuré, montrant une auto-organisation des amas favorisant l’interaction entre les dipôles des particules. / This thesis discusses the use of a liquid crystal structure, called oily streaks, formed by the competition of two antagonist anchoring on each side of a submicrometric liquid crystal layer, to achieve the self-alignment and, for higher concentration, the organization, of single photon emitters on an individual scale. We discuss the internal layout of these oily streaks through measurements done in polarized optical microscopy, ellipsometry and X-ray diffraction analysis. These data sets are correlated in chapter 2 into a description of the internal structure of the oily streaks, characterized by the formation of a pattern of oriented topological defects, and an analysis of their behaviour. These streaks are then used as a template to align single photon emitters, CdSe:CdS dot-in-rods, on an individual scale alongside the main axis of the defects. We measure the alignment of their dipoles as well as their degree of polarization in order to discuss the behaviour of the particles in the topological defects of the oily streaks. The last chapter presents a statistical analysis of the behaviour of nanoparticles in oily streaks once their concentration is increased, depending on their size in number of particles as well as the characteristics of the structure in which the single particles or the clusters are trapped. We use these elements to further our understanding of the layout of oily streaks in different thicknesses and configurations as we observe the alignment phenomenon both with single particles and clusters, as well as, for the clusters, a similar or superior degree of polarization compared to single particles, indicating an interaction between the particles’ dipoles.

Un intérêt scientifique croissant dans les cristaux liquides (LC) est née de leur capacité à guider l'assemblage des colloïdes1,2 et des nanoparticules (NPs)3-8 en configurations spatiales bien définies. Dans cette thèse, nous avons étudié les LC smectiques A (SmA) qui produisent 1D et 2D modèles de défauts de taille nanométrique9 avec sub-micrométrique périodicité et sont capables d'assembler des NP dans des structures ordonnées par défaut/NP interactions. La thèse a été axé sur deux tâches principales: l'élaboration d'une méthode fiable pour motifs de défaut de la création avec la symétrie et la périodicité prédéfinie qui peut être réglé par des champs électriques appliqués; assemblage NPs de nature différente, la taille et la forme en structures ordonnées dans accordable LC tableaux de défauts. Dans ce mémoire, nous avons montré que les modèles de défauts 1D et 2D peuvent être créés soit par variation de l'épaisseur du film à cristaux liquides en l'absence de champ électrique externe, ou en appliquant le champ à une épaisseur donnée. La morphologie de motif est déterminée par l'épaisseur de la région confinée, où le directeur de LC de rotation perpendiculaire à l'orientation parallèle à des substrats. Dans les cellules hybrides SmA/NP NPs anisométriques alignent le long de la directrice en l'absence de défauts, mais alignent parallèle à la ligne des défauts10 dans le noyau de défaut. Un champ électrique appliqué à la ligne normale de défaut de contestation de l'interaction des particules anisotropes défaut et peut conduire à une orientation perpendiculaire, en fonction du type et de la taille des particules. Ajout sphériques NPs d'or à SmA LCs conduit à la déstabilisation des domaines de défauts linéaires, la stabilisation de bandes striées et empêche l'agrégation même pour une grande concentration de NPs d'or dans les cellules hybrides. / An increasing scientific interest in liquid crystals (LCs) has arisen from their ability to guide the assembly of colloids and nanoparticles (NPs) into well-defined spatial patterns. In this thesis we have studied the smectic A (SmA) LCs which produce 1D and 2D patterns of nanometer size defects with sub-micrometer periodicity and are capable to assemble NPs into ordered structures via defect/NP interactions. The dissertation was focused on two main tasks: developing a reliable method for creation defect patterns with predefined symmetry and periodicity which can be tuned by applied electric fields; assembling NPs of different nature, size and shape into ordered structures within tunable LC defect arrays. In this thesis we have shown that 1D and 2D defect patterns can be created either by varying the LC film thickness in the absence of external electric field, or by applying the field at a given thickness. The pattern morphology is determined by the thickness of the confined region, where the LC director rotates from normal to parallel to the substrates orientation. In SmA/NPs hybrid cells anisometric NPs align along the director in the absence of defects but align parallel to line defects within the defect core. An electric field applied normal to the defect line challenges the anisotropic particle-defect interaction and may lead to perpendicular orientation, depending on the particle type and size. Adding spherical gold NPs (GNPs) to SmA LCs leads to destabilization of linear defect domains, stabilization of striated stripes and prevents aggregation even for a large concentration of GNPs in hybrid cells.

Photonics, the technological field that encompasses all aspects of light, has been rapidly growing and increasingly useful in uncovering fundamental truths about nature. It has helped detect gravitational waves, allowed for a direct measurement of the quantum wave function, and has helped realize the coldest temperatures in the universe. But photonics has also had an enormous impact on day-to-day life as well; it has enabled high capacity and/or high speed telecommunication, offered cancer treatment solutions, and has completely revolutionized display and scanning technology. All of these discoveries and applications have required a superb understanding of light, but also a high degree of control over the sometimes abstract properties of light. The work contained in this thesis explores two novel means of controlling and manipulating two different abstract properties of light. In Part I, the property under investigation is the polarization state of light – a property that is paramount to all light-matter interactions, and even some light-light interactions such as interference. Here, a liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator (LCOS-SLM)’s capabilities in manipulating the polarization state of light is theoretically examined and experimentally exploited, tested, and reported on. It is found through experimentation that, for an appropriate range of beam sizes and input polarizations, a single LCOS-SLM can be used to produce any light field with an arbitrary, spatially varying polarization profile. In Part II, the property under investigation loosely corresponds to light’s spatial degree of freedom – how light can move from one spot in space to another in a non-trivial manner. Here, control over light’s position through a waveguide array through the use of quantum geometric phase is theoretically examined, simulated, and experimentally designed. It is found through simulation that a threewaveguide array is capable of implementing two dimensional unitary transformations. The common theme between Part I and Part II is manipulating these properties of light to realize classes of general transformations. Moreover, if the light field is treated as a quantum state in the basis of either property under investigation, a two dimensional computational basis ensues. This is precisely the right cardinality for applications in quantum information.