Multiple scattering in polymer dispersed liquid crystal films

Abstract

A model to describe light transfer in polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films has been developed. It takes into account the anisotropy of the nematic liquid crystal droplets, their polydispersity, multiple scattering, and Fresnel reflection at the film interfaces. The model is based on the solution of the radiative transfer equation by the adding method extended for anisotropic liquid crystal droplets. The anomalous diffraction approach was used for the description of light scattering on a single droplet. Calculations of the angular dependence of the intensity of light and contrast ratio on the morphology, illumination and observation conditions of PDLC films in the transmittance mode have been carried out. The results are in qualitative agreement with the published experimental data.