  We report on fast electro-optic switching (response time 0.1 ms) of a
blue-phase-polymer templated nematic with a broad-temperature range of
thermodynamic stability and hysteresis-free performance. The nematic fills a
polymer template that imposes a periodic structure with cubic symmetry and
submicron period. In the field-free state, the nematic in polymer template is
optically isotropic. An applied electric field causes non-zero optical
retardance. The approach thus combines beneficial structural and optical
features of the blue phase (cubic structure with submicron periodicity) and
superior thermodynamic stability and electro-optic switching ability of the
nematic filler.
