Static and optical Kerr effect in the nematogen M.B.B.A.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The Kerr effect has been studied in the nematic liquid crystal M.B.B.A. both for its isotropic phase and in solutions in CCl4. Electric and high frequency laser fields were used and both Static and Optical Kerr constants evaluated. The laser-induced birefringence has been studied as a function of temperature, time and equivalent field strength. A sign reversal of the Kerr effect between direct current and optical frequency fields is reported both for the pure isotropic phase and for the material in solution. In addition the static field studies indicated that a sign reversal in d.c. fields might be obtainable as a function of solution concentration. The studies in the isotropic phase, when conducted over a limited temperature range, indicated that the short-range-order theory proposed by de Gennes is appropriate to this system.