Interference of nonpolarized light in liquid crystal domains on a polymer surface

The interference of nonpolarized light transmitted through an ensemble of nematic liquid crystal domains formed on a polycarbonate surface has been investigated. A model based on the superposition of the ordinary and extraordinary beams passing through domains with a radial structure has been developed. Expressions for the phase difference and intensity of the interfering beams have been derived that take into account the distribution of the liquid crystal director field. The dependences of the optical transmittance of a domain layer on the applied voltage have been calculated with regard to the material and optical constants of a liquid crystal and structural features and averaged morphological parameters of individual domains in the experimental sample. The results of the calculation are consistent with the experimental data, which confirms the validity of the proposed model.