F. Bloisi et al., POLARIZED-LIGHT SCATTERING IN A NOVEL POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL GEOMETRY, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science,and vision., 14(3), 1997, pp. 662-668
In a previous paper [Liq. Cryst. 20, 377 (1996)] we presented a polyme
r dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) in a novel geometry in which the qua
si-static electric field lies in the plane of the sample. We also demo
nstrated experimentally the possibility of realizing an optoelectronic
polarizer by using such a geometry. In the current paper we present a
first-level mathematical model describing this device. Working in the
framework of basic PDLC theory, the anomalous diffraction approach is
used to compute the scattering cross section of anisotropic droplets.
Under the assumption of weakly refracting droplets of the same order
of magnitude as that of the light wavelength, we give an analytical ex
pression for the scattering cross section versus the sample order para
meter. We show, by comparison with experimental data, that our model,
even with its limitations, is able to give a good description of the p
henomenon. Finally, we present some examples of the use of the model a
s a designing tool. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.