Geometric Phase for Light Propagating in Nematics with Disclinations

Abstract

A geometric model is used to investigate the propagation of light in nematic liquid crystals with topological defects. Spinors, representing polarization of the light, are parallelly transported around the defects. It is shown that they acquire a phase which depends on the ratio between the extraordinary and ordinary refractive indices and on the defect winding number. This result can be interpreted as a manifestation of a geometric phase which may be detected by suitable interference experiments.

Keywords:

• nematics
• disclinations
• Geometric Phases

Acknowledgments

We thank CNPq and CAPES (PROCAD program) and FINEP/FAPESQ (PRONEX program). We are also indebted to J. Schaum and C. Furtado for important comments and suggestions.