Open AccessCircular polarization interferometry: circularly polarized modes of cholesteric liquid crystals
Author(s) -
A. Sanchez-Castillo,
Sahand Eslami,
Frank Gießelmann,
Peer Fischer
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.031227
Subject(s) - optics , interferometry , circular polarization , birefringence , polarization (electrochemistry) , refractive index , liquid crystal , optical rotation , cholesteric liquid crystal , materials science , physics , chemistry , microstrip
We describe a novel polarization interferometer which permits the determination of the refractive indices for circularly-polarized light. It is based on a Jamin-Lebedeff interferometer, modified with waveplates, and permits us to experimentally determine the refractive indices nL and nR of the respectively left- and right-circularly polarized modes in a cholesteric liquid crystal. Whereas optical rotation measurements only determine the circular birefringence, i.e. the difference (nL - nR), the interferometer also permits the determination of their absolute values. We report refractive indices of a cholesteric liquid crystal in the region of selective (Bragg) reflection as a function of temperature.