Influence of Frank elastic constant anisotropy on optical pattern formation using nematic liquid crystal films

Abstract

We investigate the influence of the Frank elastic constant anisotropy on optical pattern formation using nematic liquid crystal (NLC) films in one-feedback-mirror systems. The governing diffusion-like equation for the parallel planar-aligned and the vertical-aligned NLC films with an externally biasing quasi-static electric field under the hard boundary assumption is derived. The intrinsic Frank elastic constant anisotropy induces the anisotropy of the diffusion length, which results in the anisotropic distribution of the threshold intensity for optical pattern formation. The effects of the elastic constant anisotropy on optical pattern formation are studied for the first time and the obtained numerical results can reasonably explain the optical patterns that are formed.