Influence of the backflow effect on the orientational dynamics induced by light in nematics.
We investigate the dynamical phenomena induced by a circularly polarized plane wave incident perpendicularly on a homeotropically aligned nematic layer. We study theoretically the influence of the velocity field (backflow effect) on the bifurcation scenario. Whereas backflow leads to substantial quantitative changes of secondary bifurcation thresholds, the overall bifurcation scenario remains unchanged. In the regime of uniform precession of the director with large reorientation, an unanticipated spatial oscillation of the flow field across the layer is found. Quantitative comparison with experimental large-aspect ratio systems is now possible.
Krimer
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Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany. dmitry.krimer@uni-bayreuth.de
Demeter
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Kramer
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