Total Internal Reflection in a Hybrid Nematic Cell Submitted to Weak Boundary Conditions

Abstract

We calculate the trajectory of a monochromatic optical beam propagating in a planar-homeotropic hybrid nematic crystal cell submitted to weak anchoring conditions. We apply a uniform electric field perpendicular to the cell to control the trajectories for various values of the anchoring elastic energy. We have found that the anchoring energy has a strong influence on the ray penetration length and trajectory. Our calculations are consistent with a previously found Frederick’s type transition only present for weak anchoring in which electric fields above an anchoring-energy dependent critical field align completely the director field.