Optics of some chiral liquid crystals

Abstract

Although the optics of chiral systems like cholesterics has been studied for well over one hundred years, the subject is still very relevant in view of new and different chiral systems that have been realised in the laboratory in recent times. These systems are associated with novel optical properties and have drawn considerable attention. Here, we consider the optics of ferrocholesterics, absorbing cholesterics, chiral smectic C, absorbing and non-absorbing twist grain boundary smectics and a tapered soliton lattice. In particular, we deal with reflection, transmission and diffraction properties of these systems.