Bragg diffraction of higher orders on oblique helicoidal liquid crystal structures

For the oblique helicoidal (Ch_OH) structure of the chiral twist-bend nematic-forming mixture of CB7CB/CB6OCB/5CB doped by light-sensitive chiral compound based on azo-fragment, at oblique incidence of light two consequent states of Bragg reflection in the visible spectral range from 400 to 750 nm were experimentally observed in the course of decreasing the applied electric field. These states were assigned to different orders of Bragg’s diffraction occurring at Ch_OH layers with full pitch periodicity <i>P</i>. While the second and third orders of Bragg’s diffraction can be easily observed in conditions of standard electrooptic cell, the first order could be revealed only at very high electric field near the ‘red’ edge of the visible spectral range. For the second and third orders of diffraction there is a narrow range of electric field where both diffraction orders are observed (so-called hybrid state), with transmittance spectra of the Ch_OH structure showing two peaks at the short-wavelength and the long-wavelength edges of the visible spectral range. Model calculations of Bragg’s reflection of light were carried out using literature values of elasticity constants and dielectric permittivity, and the calculated plots of the selective reflection maximum <i>vs</i>. voltage were in good agreement with experimental data.