Numerical investigation of optically induced director oscillations in nematic liquid crystals - art. no. 020701

We present a theoretical study of the effects induced by the passage of a l inearly polarized light beam through a thin cell of homeotropic nematic liq uid crystal. The light is incident at a slightly oblique angle and is polar ized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Experiments in this geometry have revealed a rich variety of complex, time dependent director motion. We solve numerically the director equations for the nematic and compare the r esults with existing experimental findings.