Abstract

Recently we proposed a novel geometrical configuration¹ to enhance the nonlinear optical properties of a nematic liquid crystal cell. In this configuration different molecular orientations are imposed on the two boundary surfaces of the sample, i.e., homeotropic on the first glass and planar on the second one. We have demonstrated that hybrid alignment (HAN) leads to absence of threshold for the onset of nonlinear optical reorientation, and we pointed out the important role played on this phenomenon by the anchoring energies on the boundaries.

© 1984 Optical Society of America