Measurement of the Mueller matrices of blue-phase structures

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Abstract
Using polarized light scattered at 45° from mixtures of chiral CB15 and nonchiral E9 liquid crystals, we have measured the Mueller matrices characterizing the Bragg reflections of blue-phase structures BPI, BPIIA, and BPIIB. Surprisingly, all of these structures possess essentially the same Mueller matrix, namely, that of an elliptical polarizer with axial ratio ≅0.7. The implications of the results on the allowed space groups of the blue phases is discussed in the context of the theory of Hornreich and Shtrikman.