Complex field-induced nematic defect structures in Laguerre-Gaussian optical tweezers

Slobodan Žumer; Tine Porenta; Miha Ravnik

doi:10.1117/12.930450

11 October 2012 Complex field-induced nematic defect structures in Laguerre-Gaussian optical tweezers

Slobodan Žumer, Tine Porenta, Miha Ravnik

Proceedings Volume 8475, Liquid Crystals XVI; 84750V (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930450
Event: SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Complex optical field-induced defect structures are presented in nematic and chiral nematic liquid crystals, as imprinted by Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) laser beams. Our modeling study is based on the phenomenological free energy approach, which dielectrically couples the nematic optical axis with the polarization of the LG beams. The symmetry of the presented structures proves to be conditioned by the beam helical indices. The beam intensity, strength of the nematic elastic constant, and local intensity-induced control of the nematic order via absorption of the light are demonstrated as possible mechanisms for producing, imprinting, and tuning of the field-induced complex defect structures in achiral and chiral nematics.

Citation Download Citation

Slobodan Žumer, Tine Porenta, and Miha Ravnik "Complex field-induced nematic defect structures in Laguerre-Gaussian optical tweezers", Proc. SPIE 8475, Liquid Crystals XVI, 84750V (11 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930450

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