Liquid crystals in laser technology

We report the results of studies carried out at the Lebedev Physical Institute on the electro-optics of nematic and smectic (ferroelectric) liquid crystals and their applications for modulating amplitude, phase, or scattering of laser radiation in electrically and optically controlled transparencies (spatial light modulators), in holographic memory devices, in wave field shapers and image converters (including three-dimensional ones), and in recognizing, sensory and other devices of laser technology.