Reduction of threshold of acousto-optic effect in a nematic crystal subject to combined actions

Abstract

The acousto-optic effect in a homeotropically aligned layer of a nematic liquid crystal was investigated subject to combined actions: 1, for coherent excitation of ultrasonic and viscous waves, 2, for ultrasonic action in an electric field near the Freedericksz transition. The acousto-optic effect threshold was reduced by two orders of magnitude. The experimental results are discussed using the facoustic streaming model. The theoretical analysis is supported by our experimental results.