Regensburg, Germany 11.03. - 15.03.2002 Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e. V. (DPG) http://www.dpg-tagungen.de/info/

The surface morphology and optical properties of liquid crystal films doped with photochromic dithienylethene compounds are shown to be reversibly altered by photoirradiation. The photo- switching between two optical and structural states is based on the photochromism of the dithienylethene dopant which may exist as an open or as a closed isomer. While the open isomer has a twisted structure and exhibits an absorption spectrum in the uv, the absorption