OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF STRETCHED POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL FILMS - ANGLE-DEPENDENT POLARIZED-LIGHT SCATTERING

A systematic experimental study of the polarization-dependent light sc attering properties of uniaxially stretched polymer dispersed liquid c rystal (PDLC) films with the bipolar director field structure in the m icron-sized nematic droplets is presented. The space distribution of t he scattered intensity as a function of the incident and scattered opt ical polarization, as well as the degree and azimuth of polarization o f the scattered light have been measured, and the results are discusse d in terms of physical parameters related to the sample structure, suc h as molecular alignment, droplet size, shape, orientation, etc. The m ain factors determining the light polarizing ability of an ordered PDL C film are discussed. On the basis of the results obtained, some poten tial display applications of a stretched PDLC film are proposed. In pa rticular, the reasons are given for using such a film as a polarizing diffuser for backlit twisted nematic LCDs.