Hydrodynamical and anchoring effects for optical propagation in a nematic wave guide

Abstract

We consider a cylindrical waveguide with a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) core, having initially the radial escaped configuration and subjected to a pressure gradient applied along the guide. By assuming arbitrary anchoring quasi-homeotropic boundary conditions, we calculate the equilibrium textures for NLC and the velocity profiles, parameterised by the pressure gradient and the strength of its interaction with the cylindrical wall. By performing exact numerical calculations, we calculate the spatial distribution of the transverse magnetic modes in the guide, and we show that the propagation of the optical fields is significantly altered by the induced distortion, the pressure and the realistic anchoring conditions.

Keywords:

• hydrodynamical effects
• anchoring effects
• elastic textures
• optical waveguides

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the partial support of the Programa Interinstitucional de Colaboración UNISON-UNAM.