ANALYSIS OF BEAM SIZE EFFECT ON THE LASER-INDUCED FREEDERICKSZ TRANSITION AND THE DYNAMIC-RESPONSE IN NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL (5CB) FILMS WITH A FREE-SURFACE

Abstract

The non-local effect caused by the finite laser beam size in the laser induced Freedericksz transition for the homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal film is derived analytically and calculated numerically. The influences on the transition threshold and the dynamic response are discussed. The coupling between backflow effect and the non-local effect is shown to be important for the films with a free surface by the calculated results and by comparing with the existing experimental results.