Optical properties of magnetically doped cholesterics

Abstract

We have computed the optical diffraction pattern for linearly polarized light incident normal to the twist axis (phase grating mode) of a magnetically doped cholesteric (ferrocholesteric). The intrinsic Faraday rotation of the magnetic grains results in extra orders of diffraction. Also we find diffraction for any azimuth of the incident vibration. Further, using the Jones N matrices we have worked out the optical properties for light propagation along the twist axis on the very low wavelength side of the reflection band. We find that the medium behaves very differently from a normal cholesteric.