title: Numerical investigation of optically induced director oscillations in nematic liquid crystals.
abstract: We present a theoretical study of the effects induced by the passage of a linearly polarized light beam through a thin cell of homeotropic nematic liquid crystal. The light is incident at a slightly oblique angle and is polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Experiments in this geometry have revealed a rich variety of complex, time dependent director motion. We solve numerically the director equations for the nematic and compare the results with existing experimental findings.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demeter
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kramer