Light scattering from a spherical nematic droplet modulated by an electric field

Abstract

We use finite difference and relaxation methods to simulate the three-dimensional molecular director configurations in a spherical nematic droplet in the presence of an electric field. Deformation free energy of the nematic droplet is described in terms of tensor representation. Total scattering cross sections of a single nematic droplet modulated by various electric field strengths are calculated using the anomalous diffraction approach light scattering theory. The electrooptical properties are examined with respect to the droplet size, the dielectric anisotropy and the elastic constants of the nematic liquid crystals.