Experimental Confirmation of Characteristic Augular Dependence at Low Intensity Levels in Rayleigh Scattering from Monodomain Nematics

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Abstract
To check the validity of the de Gennes formula and the accuracy of the scattering measurements, we have compared the recorded data with the calculated results for the scattering angular (\alphax) dependence of the Rayleigh line intensity, I (O,E), I (E,O) or I (E,E) obtained by using a homeotropically-aligned cell. Here the superscripts refer to the ordinary or extraordinary polarization of the incident and scattered light. By tilting the cell, we can change the angle φ between the incident light and the director from -30° to 30°, keeping the director in the scattering plane. I (O,E) and I (E,E) show minima at α=φ and α=2φ, respectively, as predicted and the stray light levels are much less than one percent of those used ordinarily in determining the elastic constant ratios. In addition, the tilting is very effective to increase I (E,E), which allows us to measure the line width due to the mode 1 director fluctuations accurately using the homodyne technique.