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Abstract
Unlike most organic materials, liquid crystals respond readily to magnetic fields. This response originates in the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility of nematics, and the relative ease with which they undergo orientational deformations. Because of the large optical birefringence of liquid crystals, these orientational deformations are easy to observe. An interesting demonstration is to place a small rare earth magnet on a nematic cell between crossed polarizers which is illuminated from below. As the magnetic field reorients the liquid crystal, beautiful interference colours appear, indicating director deformations.