Critical angles for light propagation in the chiral smectic liquid crystals

Abstract

For a specific tilt angle the peak height and width of the full pitch sequence of reflection peaks of chiral SmC liquid crystals reaches a maximum value. This Turning Point Tilt Angle is investigated theoretically by approximate analytic methods and by the 4÷4 characteristic matrix. We calculated also the longitudinal component of the electric field and found that its value varies also with tilt angle exhibiting a maximum, which depends on the incidence angle.

PACS no. 61.30 E, 78.30 C