Index grating surface anchoring

A simple model describing location of Raman-Nath index grating photoexcited in a planar cell with photoconductive orienting layers is proposed. We believe that index grating vector is parallel to cell boundaries. One of the most important features resulting from this model is that the index grating spacing equals to projection of the exciting optical grating spacing on cell boundaries. The experimental study was carried out with 9 micrometer thick planar cell filled with nematic liquid crystal 6CHBT, activated by anthraquinone dyes. DC or square-wave AC field has been applied to the cell. Holographic gratings were recorded by two (signal + pump) or three (signal + 2 pumps) coherent p -polarized beams from He-Ne laser operating at 632.8 nm. The crossing angle between signal and pump beams and the sample tilting angle were chosen to satisfy "angular resonance". The tilting angle varied from 20° to 45°, high diffraction orders were observed up to angle 77°. Calculations on the basis of our model and experimental results are in good agreement. We also discuss and present explanation of the observed effects in geometry with 2 pump beams.