English

Optically induced orientational transitions in nematics with planar alignment

Soft Condensed Matter 2010-01-29 v1

Abstract

Theoretical study of dynamical phenomena induced by a linearly polarized plane wave incident perpendicularly on a planar aligned nematic layer with the light intensity as the control parameter is reported. We find the threshold of the Optically Induced Freedericksz Transition for the planar state as a function of the problem parameters. It occurs that the threshold is substantially lower than that expected before. Above the primary instability the director settles either to a stationary or to an oscillatory states depending on a thickness of the layer. These states become unstable at a secondary threshold through a heteroclinic bifurcation and the director settles to a new stationary distorted state.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0810.0278,
  title  = {Optically induced orientational transitions in nematics with planar alignment},
  author = {Dmitry O. Krimer},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0810.0278},
  year   = {2010}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:26:25.650Z