Abstract
The general problems being important for the determination of the liquid crystal surface anchoring and liquid crystal surface orientation of nematics, large-pitch cholesterics, and some smectics by means of attenuated total internal reflection (ATIR) of a visible light beam have been outlined. The advantages and disadvantages of ATIR for measuring of the surface energy have been discussed and compared with those of other well-known methods. The possible influence of additional orienting and/or coducting layers on the reflectivity and polarization of the incident wave are also briefly discussed.