Laser beam propagation in a flow aligned nematic liquid crystal: analysis on liquid/light interactions

Abstract

The propagation of laser beam in a flow aligned nematic liquid crystal (NLC) and its interaction with liquid are illustrated in this letter. The effect of polarization and scattering on the transmitted power through the NLC under external perturbation flow is demonstrated here. It is found that the flow rate has a significant role in the modulation of refractive index of the medium leading to scattering and change in polarization. © 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).