Light scattering from a small nematic droplet

TLDR

The study discusses how light scattering can reveal droplet size and nematic director structure, and highlights features relevant to electro‑optical light shutters. The authors examine various nematic director configurations within a droplet. Using the Rayleigh‑Gans approximation, the authors derive the scattering matrix, differential and total cross sections for a small nematic droplet, considering spherical configurations from different anchoring angles and both field‑free and field‑applied cases. Closed‑form results are obtained for simple cases, while numerical calculations show strong dependence of differential and total cross sections on impact and scattering angles.

Abstract

The scattering matrix, differential cross section, and the total cross section for a small nematic droplet are derived in the Rayleigh-Gans approximation. Different nematic director configurations are considered for the droplet. Those studied are the configurations which result in a spherical droplet from different molecular anchoring angles at the droplet wall. Configurations both in the absence and presence of an applied field are derived and their scattering properties are examined. Some simple cases are treated in detail and the results presented in closed form. In other more practical cases numerical results are presented for the differential and total cross section. Strong dependencies on the impact and scattering angles are found. The possibilities of determining droplet size and nematic director structure from experimental light scattering data are discussed, as well as features relevant to electro-optic light shutters.