title: Acoustic realignment of nematic liquid crystals.
abstract: In a nematic liquid-crystal cell, the molecules can be realigned by an ultrasonic wave, leading to a change in the optical transmission through the cell. We present a model for this acousto-optic effect, and show that the magnitude of this effect is controlled by a director-density coupling. We then measure the optical transmission as a function of acoustic intensity for three liquid-crystal materials, and confirm that the data fit the functional form of the theoretical prediction. This fit gives the value of the director-density coupling, which varies greatly from material to material.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6900, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Selinger
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Greanya
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Weslowski
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shashidhar