Additive Optical Properties of Uniaxial Liquid-Crystalline Mixture

Abstract
The additivity relations, which connect the optical parameters of an uniaxial liquid-crystalline mixture in the transparency region [refractive indices n_j for the light polarized along (j = ||) or across (j = j = ⊥) optical axis, Δn = n_|| – n_⊥, = (n_|| + 2n_⊥)/3, ε_m =(n_||² + 2n_⊥²)/3, n_m = ε_m^1/2] with similar values of pristine liquid-crystalline components constituting the mixture, were obtained. To derive the additivity relations, for the mixture and its individual components, a microscopic approach was used, taking into account the anisotropy of the local field of light wave. All additivity relations for the nematic mixture of para-azoxyanisole with para-azoxyphenetole obtained in a broad range of mesophase temperatures and light-wave wavelengths were confirmed with high accuracy.

Keywords: liquid-crystalline mixtures, refractive indices, additivity relations