This proposal is aimed at the synthesis of a new class of liquid crystal materials that exhibit changes in selected properties by the polarization states of incident light. Photochemical, physical and chiroptic properties of model chiral chromophores will be examined as potential photoresolvable mesogens or dopants. Phase formation will be studied by optical or electro- optical means such as reflection, rotation, or ferroelectric behavior, and the photoinduction of twisted phases by irradiation with circularly polarized light will be used to examine oriented liquid crystalline phases of appropriately constructed photoresolvable mesogens.
