Ukrainian Journal of Physical Optics 

Yu. A. Nastishin

Optical characterization of a liquid crystal (LC) implies the identification of LC phases and reconstruction of the director distribution in a given LC specimen using optical facilities. Several techniques – Optical Polarization Microscopy (OPM), Polarization Confocal Microscopy (PCM), Magnetic Null technique, Crystal Rotation technique, Optical Conoscopy, RV-technique for the determination of nematic polar anchoring strength W are analyzed. The abilities of the techniques in the application to LC's are illustrated by the author's recent results obtained in collaboration with France and USA liquid crystal groups. Identification of new LC TGBA and lyotropic chromonic nematic phases via their defects, optical study of the interface between the lyotropic L3 (sponge) phase and a solid substrate, computer simulation of the conoscopic patterns for distorted (including hidden deformations) nematic  LC cells and their experimental observations, protocol for the measurements of W, the  RV-technique and other results are among the problems solved using optical techniques analyzed in this paper.

Keywords: liquid crystals, nematic anchoring energy, defects, conoscopy

PACS: 42.25.Lc, 42.30.Sy, 42.70.Df

doi 10.3116/16091833/3/3/171/2002

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