Observation of stochastic resonance in a liquid-crystal light valve with optical feedback induced by colored noise in the driving voltage

Abstract

Stochastic resonance is a noise phenomenon that benefits applications such as pattern formation, neural systems, microelectromechanical systems, and image processing. This study experimentally clarifies that the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules was switched between two stable positions when stochastic resonance was induced by colored noises in a liquid crystal light valve with optical feedback. Ornstein-Uhlenbeck and dichotomous noises were used for colored noise, and the noise was applied to the drive voltage of the liquid crystal light valve. The signal-to-noise ratio was measured with respect to changes in the noise type, noise intensity, and autocorrelation time of the noise. It was found that typical stochastic resonance was observed with a noise autocorrelation time of approximately 20 ms or more for both noise types, and dichotomous noise further enhanced the stochastic resonance compared to the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise. This suggests that it is possible to maximize stochastic resonance in a liquid crystal light valve by optimizing the conditions of colored noise.