Work

Theoretical description of high-harmonic spectroscopy for uniaxial nematic and isotropic liquid crystals

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Enabled by their controllable optical anisotropy, liquid crystals form a cornerstone of linear optical and display technologies. Bringing the versatile platform into the nonlinear regime, we explore its nonlinear optical anisotropy by high-order harmonic generation spectroscopy. Through a comprehensive study targeting gas, liquid, nematic, and crystalline phases, we present a semi-empirical tight-binding approach that provides insight into the intermolecular character of ultrafast light-driven electron dynamics across soft-matter mesophases. We demonstrate how intermolecular electron hybridization enables spectroscopic access to structural properties, such as the nematic director and order parameter. Outlining such foundational mechanisms opens avenues towards nonlinear liquid crystal devices and ultrafast soft-matter spectroscopies.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2610.35672

Authors: Jensen, Simon Vendelbo Bylling, Murillo-Sánchez, Marta L., Annunziata, Andrea, Rubio, Angel, Cattaneo, Laura, Tancogne-Dejean, Nicolas

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Flatiron Institute, Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Flatiron Health, Eusko Jaurlaritza, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

Awards: G1354304681, G4243593813

OpenAlex ID: W7223982261

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