Angular dependences of transmission spectra of chiral liquid crystals

Abstract

Transmission spectra of chiral nematic liquid crystals (CNLCs) and chiral smectic С* liquid crystals (CSLCs) are studied in a wide range of angles of light propagation with respect to the direction of the helical structure axis. To this end, both a planar LC cell and a cell consisting of two substrates in the form of rectangular prisms (30° × 60° × 90°) were used, which allowed measurements of the transmission spectra at the light propagation at angles up to 65° with respect to the helical axis direction. The transmission spectra are numerically simulated; the results are in good agreement with the experimental spectra. A technique for determining the tilt angle of molecules in smectic layers is proposed based on the comparative analysis of experimental and calculated transmission spectra of CSLC.