Coupling waves method in anisotropic medium with twisting

Abstract

By the coupled waves method, the process of spatial energy transfer between ordinary and extraordinary waves in an anisotropic media with the twisting is investigated. Without applying any approximate methods, exact analytical expressions describing the spatial dynamics of such an energy transfer are obtained. It is shown that a twist oriented cell of a nematic liquid crystal operates as an achromatic λ/2 plate at sufficiently large thicknesses and at any value of an azimuthal angle of the input linearly polarized wave despite the absence of the phenomenon of adiabatic following.