Structural, Magnetic, Electric and Optical Coherences in Self-Organized Ensembles of Nematic Domains

Abstract
Structural, magneto- and electro-optical properties of a self-organized ensemble of nematic domains (SEND) formed on a polycarbonate film in the presence of a residual solvent have been studied. The film was deposited on one of the plane-parallel glass plates of a liquid-crystal cell. The magnetic field stabilizing the planar orientation of the liquid crystal was applied in parallel, while the reorienting electric field was directed perpendicular to the cell surfaces. The dependences of the intensity of light transmitted through the domain ensemble on the electric voltage are obtained for various fixed values of the magnetic field. The experimental dependences are compared with the calculated ones determined using the procedure for minimizing the free energy of the liquid crystal, with good agreement between the results. From a comparison of the structural, magnetic, and electrical coherence lengths, the mutual influence of the structural elements of the ensemble and the effects of phase modulation of light are estimated.

Keywords: nematic liquid crystal, polycarbonate, magnetic field, electric field, light intensity