Anomalous Optical Freedericksz Transition in an Absorbing Liquid Crystal

Abstract

Abstract Laser-induced reorientation was studied in absorbing nematic films. The optical Freedericksz threshold occured at an intensity level of 50 W/cm2 in contrast to the normally observed few KW/cm2 value for transparent layers. Thermomechanical coupling is considered as a possible explanation of the observed anomaly.