Abstract

The grating effect, observed when a homogeneously aligned and periodically distorted nematic liquid crystal layer (in the bend–spaly mode) is obliquely illuminated, is theoretically considered from a geometrical optics point of view. The basic characteristics of the effect, namely, the much more intense fringes obtained from weakly distorted layer, compared with those formed in the normal incidence case, the asymmetry of fringes, and the equal importance of the even- and odd-order fringes are revealed. Also, a formula is derived which satisfactorily predicts the dependence of the fringe power on the distortion amplitude of the nematic layer.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

Geometrical optics approach to the nematic liquid crystal grating: leading term formulas

H. M. Zenginoglou and J. A. Kosmopoulos
Appl. Opt. 28(16) 3516-3519 (1989)

Geometrical optics approach to the nematic liquid crystal grating: numerical results

J. A. Kosmopoulos and H. M. Zenginoglou
Appl. Opt. 26(9) 1714-1721 (1987)

Linearized wave-optical approach to the grating effect of a periodically distorted nematic liquid crystal layer

H. M. Zenginoglou and J. A. Kosmopoulos
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 14(3) 669-675 (1997)

Diffraction from a Liquid Crystal Phase Grating

R. A. Kashnow and J. E. Bigelow
Appl. Opt. 12(10) 2302-2304 (1973)

Analytical expression for the fringe intensities of a nematic grating excited electrohydrodynamically in the dielectric mode

H. M. Zenginoglou and P. L. Papadopoulos
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(3) 573-576 (2001)