SMALL-ANGLE SCATTERING OF POLARIZED-LIGHT .5. LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE DROPLETS IN AN ISOTROPIC POLYMER

The light scattering properties of spherical droplets of a nematic low molar mass liquid crystal dispersed either in a polymer matrix or in water have been investigated. The size of the droplets varied from 0.5 mu m to 100 mu m. Only a radial arrangement of the director in spheri cal droplets was considered. Up to ten orders HV scattering patterns w ere experimentally measured. Calculations have been conducted using th e anomalous diffraction and Rayleigh-Gans-Debye theories. Particles la rger then 2 mu m show an extremely good agreement with the anomalous d iffraction theory. Particles smaller than 2 mu m show no agreement wit h either theory. This may be due to a more complex director arrangemen t than the radial distribution assumed here.