Multistability, out-of-polarization-plane reorientation, and persistent oscillations have been observed in the optical Fre´edericks transition in a homeotropically aligned nematic film using a normally incident linearly polarized laser beam with elliptical rather than circular cross section. These features could be ascribed to the presence of an additional optical torque connected with a transfer of the orbital angular momentum of light to the liquid crystal film. A model based on Ritz’s variational method confirms this picture.
Optical Fréedericksz transition in liquid crystals and transfer of the orbital angular momentum of light / Piccirillo, Bruno; Vella, A.; Santamato, Enrico. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS. - ISSN 1539-3755. - STAMPA. - 69:(2004), pp. 021702-1-021702-7.
Optical Fréedericksz transition in liquid crystals and transfer of the orbital angular momentum of light
PICCIRILLO, BRUNO;SANTAMATO, ENRICO
2004
Abstract
Multistability, out-of-polarization-plane reorientation, and persistent oscillations have been observed in the optical Fre´edericks transition in a homeotropically aligned nematic film using a normally incident linearly polarized laser beam with elliptical rather than circular cross section. These features could be ascribed to the presence of an additional optical torque connected with a transfer of the orbital angular momentum of light to the liquid crystal film. A model based on Ritz’s variational method confirms this picture.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
