Orientational Interaction of a Light Beam and NLCs Subjected to External DC Field

Orientational interaction of a light beam and nematic liquid crystals subjected to an external electrical dc field has been studied. It is shown that the intensity distribution in the aberrational pattern appeared in the cross section of the transmitted beam can be highly asymmetric, unlike the conventional, rather centrally symmetric, ring system. The director-field distortion produced by the combined action of light and dc fields is independent of the light polarization. The results are explained by the surface photorefractivity.