Optically induced orientational transitions in nematics with planar alignment

Theoretical study of dynamical phenomena induced by a linearly polarized plane wave incident perpendicularly on a planar aligned nematic layer with the light intensity as the control parameter is reported. We find the threshold of the Optically Induced Freedericksz Transition for the planar state as a function of the problem parameters. It occurs that the threshold is substantially lower than that expected before. Above the primary instability the director settles either to a stationary or to an oscillatory states depending on a thickness of the layer. These states become unstable at a secondary threshold through a heteroclinic bifurcation and the director settles to a new stationary distorted state.

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