COMPENSATION EFFECTS OF CRYSTALS AND LIQUID-CRYSTALS IN POLARIZING OPTICAL MICROSCOPE

This paper investigated the effect of a tilting compensator on the ani sotropic objects with the radial director configuration in a polarizin g optical microscope under orthoscopic observation. The polymer spheru lites of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and the radial liquid crystal (LC ) droplets in a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film were obse rved, on behalf of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ani sotropic entities, respectively. Calculated birefringence patterns fou nd good agreement with the experimental polarizing micrographs. Beside s the well-known Maltese cross, the so-called depth-induced light exti nction (DILE) bands and corresponding compensation behaviors were inve stigated in the LC droplets. According to the theoretical and experime ntal studies, we have revealed plausibly the detailed characteristics of the compensation effects in the 2D and 3D anisotropic objects and t he striking differences between them. Some applications of the compens ation effect were further pointed out.