Modelling the optical responses of electrooptic effects of liquid-crystal cells

Abstract

This paper proposes an efficient approach to the modelling of the optical responses of information-display devices based on liquid crystals that combines the use of two matrix methods--the Berreman method and the Jones method. It is proposed in this case to use the following calculation scheme: The entire inhomogeneous anisotropic system is divided into plane-parallel isotropic and anisotropic layers. The classical Jones-matrix method is used to describe light propagation through the isotropic layers, and Jones matrices calculated on the basis of the Berreman matrices are used to calculate light propagation through the anisotropic layers. The Abeles-matrix method is used when it is necessary to take into account multibeam interference in the isotropic layers in order to calculate the Jones matrices of such systems; in the anisotropic layers, the corresponding Jones matrices are calculated using the canonical Berreman method.