Abstract
A common-path heterodyne interferometer is proposed to determine the
surface anchoring energy of a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal
(LC). This technique measures, with high sensitivity, the phase retardation
of a nematic LC cell as a function of the applied voltage. According to the
measured voltage-dependent phase retardation of the LC cells, a simple linear
fitting over a well-specified voltage window can be achieved, leading to a
precise determination of the polar anchoring energy. The anchoring energy W<sub>a</sub>, cell gap, and pretilt angle
can be simultaneously obtained in the course of the same experiment.
© 2007 IEEE
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