INTERACTION OF LIGHT WITH A DYE-DOPED NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL

The interaction of linearly and circularly polarized beams with a nema tic liquid crystal doped with light-absorbing dyes has been studied by light-diffraction and microprojection methods. It has been found that there is a threshold for the emergence of light-induced anisotropic s tructures, which, depending on the type of dye, can be axisymmetric or extended in a direction determined by the light field. Possible mecha nisms leading to the formation of the anisotropic structures are discu ssed. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.