Discrete Diffractions and Nematicons in Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

In the following paper we present numerical results of light propagation in a cell filled with low birefringent chiral nematic liquid crystals with a small pitch. Due to the periodicity of a structure typical diffraction is substituted with the discrete diffraction similar to the coupling in waveguide array. For particular anisotropy and appropriate pitch diffraction can be controlled by power. Discussion about the shape and the direction of the launched beam is also provided.

Keywords:

• Chiral nematic liquid crystals
• cholesterics
• discrete diffraction
• light propagation
• spatial solitons; nematicons

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Science Centre.