Terahertz properties of liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy

We present what is believed to be the first terahertz time-domain study of a set of liquid crystals (LCs) with negative dielectric anisotropy. From the measured data, refractive indices, and absorption coefficients for ordinary and extraordinary polarization are extracted. We find that the investigated materials exhibit a much smaller absorption than LCs with positive dielectric anisotropy. Thus, these materials are more useful for switchable terahertz devices. Moreover, the LC 1808 shows what is to our knowledge the largest terahertz birefringence reported so far.