Numerical Calculation of Ellipticities of Optical Eigen Modes in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

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Abstract
The ellipticities of cholesteric optical eigen modes are numerically calculated using a 4×4 matrix method. In the limit of (pitch/wavelength)=0, the polarization states generally tend to be linear for light propagating at a finite angle to the helical axis, but circular for light propagating along the helical axis. The singularity of the latter case is discussed on the basis of the calculated results for infinitesimal obliqueness. The polarization state is nearly linear in the whole frequency range except in reflection regions when light propagates in a medium of small dielectric anisotropy at a large angle to the helical axis.