Abstract
An optical waveguide technique, involving the excitation of fully leaky guided modes, has been used to quantify the director distortions induced by the application of weak in-plane electric fields to a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal, E7. The twist profile of the nematic is determined by fitting angle-dependent reflectivity and transmission data to multilayer optical theory. By considering the Frank–Oseen free energy in the bulk, with Rapini–Papoular-type anchoring at the surfaces, we have determined accurate values for both the azimuthal anchoring strength Wa and the twist elastic constant k22 as a function of temperature. Values for the temperature-dependent surface and bulk average-order parameters have also been deduced by allowing for a spatially varying nematic-order parameter.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
