The Circular Intensity Differential Scattering (CIDS) of Cholesteric and Blue Mesophases

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Abstract
The circular intensity differential scattering of several cholesteric mixtures of CB-15 and ZLI 1612 has been measured as a function of the scattering angle and for different ratios of pitch/wavelength. These mesophases show large CIDS ratios varying with both composition and scattering angle. Difficulties encountered in performing these experiments are discussed. The comparison of the results with a theoretical model that uses the second Born approximation shows good agreement. Preliminary studies of the cholesteric-blue phase transition as monitored by changes in the CIDS signal are also presented. The possibility to obtain information about the structural organization of these chiral mesophases and their degree of crystallinity, order parameters, etc., from the CIDS measurements is discussed.