Light propagation in domain walls in ferroelectric liquid crystal devices by the finite-difference time-domain method

A finite-difference time-domain method for light wave propagation through a liquid crystal cell containing a twisted/tilted deformation profile is pre sented. Our interest is focused on deformation profiles that correspond to the commonly encountered domain walls found in ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) devices. The mathematical formulation is based on Maxwell's equation s, and, apart from the numerical discretization, no assumptions are made. T his results in consistent treatment of all phenomena associated with light wave propagation within the FLC device. The transmitted optical intensity b etween arbitrarily placed polarizers is calculated for various combinations of the parameters involved. Comparison is also made between the obtained r esults and the outcome of the standard Berreman 4 x 4 matrix method.