Ee. Kriezis et Sj. Elston, A wide angle beam propagation method for the analysis of tilted nematic liquid crystal structures, J MOD OPT, 46(8), 1999, pp. 1201-1212
The optical wave propagation within liquid crystal structures is addressed
by the development of rigorous electromagnetic wave propagation methods. Th
e demand of more refined optical wave modelling methods is driven by the fa
ct that the currently used methods applied to liquid crystal devices rely o
n the stratified medium approximation. As a consequence devices with variat
ions of the director orientation on the scale of the optical wavelength can
not be accurately analysed. An appropriate beam propagation method is devel
oped to circumvent these limitations in the case of liquid crystal devices
exhibiting the bend/splay deformation in the director profile. The method i
s a wide-angle scheme, and is therefore not restricted to the paraxial regi
on; it is tested on tilted liquid crystal structures.