Figure 1. Molecular arrangement of liquid crystal blue-phases and selective reflections.

Schematic depiction of the make-up of an azobenzene-doped blue-phase liquid crystal: (a) liquid crystal molecules in tightly wound double-twist cylinder; (b) BPI crystalline lattice; (c) BPII crystalline lattice; (d) enlarged view of the crystalline lattice and defect region where majority of dopant dye molecules aggregate, and participate actively in laser induced lattice distortion (e) Photograph of the BPLC placed on top of the Air force resolution chart; reddish coloration is due to the CPND-57 azo-dopant in BPLC; (f) Same as (e) but photo is taken with flash and exhibits more color display and contrast from the two blue-phase regions [regions of sample deliberately maintained at different temperatures].