Abstract: When a nematic liquid crystal has been doped to maximize its contrast ratio, its cutoff frequency (that above which all dynamic scattering ceases) can be further increased up to about 500% by adding small amounts of an ionic dpoant to the doped nematic crystal. The ionic dopant is R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 N.sup.+B.sup.-(R.sub.5).sub.4, where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 may be the same or different alkyl or aryl groups. The alkyl groups having the formula CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n, where n is a positive integer or zero and the aryl groups being either phenyl or biphenyl. Ammonium boride.sup.-18, (C.sub.18 H.sub.37).sub.2 (CH.sub.3).sub.2 N.sup.+B.sup.-(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4, is the preferred ionic dopant.

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a first glass plate mounted in a fixed position, a second glass plate mounted in spaced relation with said first plate and movable with respect to said first plate, an aligning agent coating the facing surfaces of said plates, a nematic liquid crystal mixture filling the space between said plates, means applying an electrical potential between the coated surfaces of said plates, and means for detecting optical characteristics within said liquid crystal mixture.