OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF THE INTERFACE BETWEEN A TWISTED LIQUID-CRYSTAL AND AN ISOTROPIC TRANSPARENT MEDIUM

In the present Part II, we describe the experiments that have been per formed in order to confirm theoretical predictions (Part I) dealing wi th optical properties of the interface between a twisted birefringent mesophase and an isotropic medium; the interface is illuminated at nor mal incidence, in the direction of the screw axis, with wavelengths si tued in the well-known selective reflection band of the mesophase. For each direction of the interface crossing the characteristics of the r eflected and transmitted rays are determined and compared to the incid ent ones: occuring differences from theoretical predictions are explai ned. When a circularly left-handed wave propagating in a dextro mesoph ase reaches the interface, the polarimetric determination of the trans mitted wave enables the orientation of the mesophase director to be re ached at the interface.