Abstract
The potential for nonlinear optical processes in nematic-liquid-crystal cells is great due to the large phase changes resulting from reorientation of the nematic-liquid-crystal director. Here the combination of diffraction and self-diffraction effects are studied simultaneously by the use of a pair of focused laser beams which are coincident on a homeotropically aligned liquid-crystal cell. The result is a complicated diffraction pattern in the far field. This is analyzed in terms of the continuum theory for liquid crystals, using a one-elastic-constant approximation to solve the reorientation profile. Very good comparison between theory and experiment is obtained. An interesting transient grating, existing due to the viscosity of the liquid-crystal material, is observed in theory and practice for large cell-tilt angles.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1172-1181 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Physical Review E |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 1993 |
Keywords
- nonlinear optical processes
- nematic-liquid-crystal cells
- nematic-liquid-crystal director
- diffraction
- self-diffraction
- laser beams
- diffraction pattern
- continuum theory
- liquid crystals
- reorientation profile
- transient grating
- viscosity
- cell-tilt angles