Abstract
Light scattering due to hedgehog-like and linear disclination topological defects in a nematic liquid crystal has been studied. Light propagation close to such defects appears to be a metric equivalent to the spatial element of the global monopole and cosmic string geometries. Using a metric approach, the amplitude of the scattering and the differential and total scattering cross section have been obtained for the hedgehog defect in terms of the characteristic parameters of a liquid crystal. In the case of disclination, a cylindrical partial wave method has been developed. Applying the results of earlier studies, we have also examined the influence of temperature on the localisation of the diffraction patterns.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported in part by INCT–CX and CAPES (PROCAD).