OPTICAL-SURFACE GUIDED-WAVES IN CHIRAL LIQUID-CRYSTAL FILMS

Excitation of Surface guided electromagnetic waves (SGEW) of optical w ave range in chiral liquid crystals (CLC) are theoretically examined i n the framework of dynamical diffraction theory. In contrast to the tr aditionally discussed method of SGEW excitation by means of attenuated total external reflection (ATER) the SGEW excitation by a beam incide nt at a CLC film from the side of a boundary without total internal re flection (TIR) is investigated. In the general case an analytical desc ription of the SEW excitation can not be carried out. It is why the li miting case allowing simplification of the problem, namely, SGEW of th e second order diffraction, is examined in details.