Wave Propagation in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Basic laws of motion of micropolar continuum are presented, and the adequacy of applying micropolar theory to liquid crystals is indicated. A set of constitutive equations is derived for nematic liquid crystals. Wave propagation problems are solved, and it is shown that the theoretical analysis is in good agreement with the experimental data, which indicates the isotropy of the phase velocity of the longitudinal wave and the anisotropy of the damping coefficient. The coupling, although small, is shown to exist between longitudinal and rotational waves.