Coherent backscattering of light in a nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

The first observation of coherent backscattering (CB) in an optically anisotropic, homogeneous (liquid crystal) medium with long-range dielectric tensor fluctuations is reported. The results are compared with previous CB experiments in heterogeneous, centrosymmetric, isotropic scattering media and with theoretical predictions for isotropic, noncentrosymmetric media. Fundamental differences and analogies between these cases are observed and explained. Other liquid crystal phases of potential interest in the localization of electromagnetic modes are introduced briefly.