Response of a Hybrid-Aligned Nematic with a Surface Disclination Line to a Magnetic Field Pulse

Abstract
The optical transmission of a hybrid-ordered nematic layer with a surface disclination line, strained by a pulsed magnetic field, is studied. The expressions for the reaction times to the field action and relaxation of a liquid crystal to an unstrained state are obtained. The experimental reaction time turned out to be significantly longer than its calculated value and comparable to the magnetic field pulse duration. The light intensity dependences on the phase difference between the ordinary and extraordinary rays, taking into account scattering are derived. For the relaxation process, good agreement is obtained between the experimental and calculated time dependences of the laser radiation intensity transmitted through the entire liquid crystal layer, with the exception of a thin transitional near-surface layer. The anomaly in the course of the relaxation curve run in the transition layer is considered within the framework of the known model concepts.

Keywords: nematic liquid crystal, polycarbonate, domain structure, light interference, light scattering, magnetic field