Connecting the optics and mechanics of dissordered photonic crystals under deformation

-Quantitative modeling of mechanochromic liquid crystals-

Some polymer liquid crystals with sub-wavelength periodicity (or pitch) are known for their unique mechanochromic properties. The photographs bellow shows an example of an aqueouse solution of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a cellulose derivative that forms chiral nematic phase. A quantitative model that explains their optical properties is necessary for the further development of liquid crystal based stress-strain sensors. However, conventional methods are not suitable for this due to the size and dissorder of the structure. I am currently focussing on the development of a novel method for modelling the optical properties of these materials.

My role in the Vignolini group

As a Scientific Software Architect of the group, I am fully responsibile of our in-house softwares for data acquisition and hardware control. I wrote most of the core programs that are used in our group and distribute them using a version controlling system that I established. I give guidances to student programmers and make important design decisions in order to maintain and further develop the architecture of our clean, efficient, dependable and reusable programs. The following images are examples of my own work for the group.

LabInterface

Graphical user interface of a self written data aquisition software.

Goniometer

A computer controled motorised optical instrument.