WAVE MIXING IN ELECTRIC-FIELD BIASED NEMATIC THIN-FILMS

Abstract

Wave mixing due to molecular reorientation in electric field biased nematic thin films is studied. By using the continuum theory, general formulae have been derived for the orientational angle distribution. The concept of a thin film grating is utilized to describe the diffraction efficiency. Experimental results which exhibit the behaviours of the transmission beam and diffraction beams have been obtained as predicted by the numerical calculation.