Abstract
We study the response of optically trapped achiral and chiralized nematic liquid crystal droplets to linear as well as circular polarized light. We find that there is internal dissipation in rotating achiral nematic droplets trapped in glycerine. We also demonstrate that some chiralized droplets rotate under linearly polarized light. The best fit to our data on chiralized droplets indicates that rotational frequency of these droplets with radius R is approximately proportional to 1/R 2, rather than to 1/R 3.
Acknowledgement
M. Mosallaeipour acknowledges financial aid and the use of laboratory facilities from the Raman Research Institute.