Fundamentals of Liquid Crystal Devices

Series Editor's Foreword xiii
 
Preface to the First Edition xv
 
Preface to the Second Edition xvii
 
1 Liquid Crystal Physics 1
 
1.1 Introduction 1
 
1.2 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 5
 
1.3 Orientational Order 10
 
1.4 Elastic Properties of Liquid Crystals 21
 
1.5 Response of Liquid Crystals to Electromagnetic Fields 27
 
1.6 Anchoring Effects of Nematic Liquid Crystal at Surfaces 38
 
1.7 Liquid crystal director elastic deformation 40
 
Homework Problems 48
 
References 49
 
2 Propagation of Light in Anisotropic Optical Media 51
 
2.1 Electromagnetic Wave 51
 
2.2 Polarization 54
 
2.3 Propagation of Light in Uniform Anisotropic Optical Media 59
 
2.4 Propagation of Light in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals 72
 
Homework Problems 85
 
References 86
 
3 Optical Modeling Methods 87
 
3.1 Jones Matrix Method 87
 
3.2 Mueller Matrix Method 98
 
3.3 Berreman 4 × 4 Method 113
 
Homework Problems 124
 
References 125
 
4 Effects of Electric Field on Liquid Crystals 127
 
4.1 Dielectric Interaction 127
 
4.2 Flexoelectric Effect 132
 
4.3 Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal 138
 
Homework Problems 146
 
References 147
 
5 Fréedericksz Transition 149
 
5.1 Calculus of Variation 149
 
5.2 Fréedericksz Transition: Statics 153
 
5.3 Measurement of Anchoring Strength 166
 
5.4 Measurement of Pretilt Angle 171
 
5.5 Fréedericksz Transition: Dynamics 175
 
Homework Problems 187
 
References 188
 
6 Liquid Crystal Materials 191
 
6.1 Introduction 191
 
6.2 Refractive Indices 192
 
6.3 Dielectric Constants 201
 
6.4 Rotational Viscosity 204
 
6.5 Elastic Constants 204
 
6.6 Figure-of-Merit (FoM) 205
 
6.7 Index Matching between Liquid Crystals and Polymers

Shin-Tson Wu is a provost-distinguished Professor of Optics at the College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida. Deng-Ke Yang, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242Deng-Ke Yang is currently Professor of the Chemical Physics Program at Kent State University.