Phase retardation dependent optical response time of parallel‐aligned liquid crystals

摘要

Correlation between the director reorientation and its consequent optical response time of the parallel‐aligned nematic liquid crystals was investigated. This optical decay time is found to depend on the phase retardation introduced by the liquid‐crystal layer. To verify theory, dependence of optical decay time on three parameters—liquid‐crystal thickness, wavelength, and birefringence (through temperature effect)—was demonstated. Taking the phase retardation dependence into consideration, the optical decay time measurement technique is a simple, convenient, and accurate method for characterizing the ratio of rotational viscosity and splay elastic constant of liquid crystals.