Paper detail

Simulation of radiation transfer and coherent backscattering in nematic liquid crystals

We consider the multiple scattering of light by fluctuations of the director in a nematic liquid crystal. Using methods of numerical simulation the peak of the coherent backscattering and the coefficients of anisotropic diffusion are calculated. The calculations were carried out without simplifying assumptions on the properties of the liquid crystal. The process of multiple scattering was simulated as a random walk of photons in the medium. We investigated in detail the transition to the diffusion regime. The dependence of the diffusion coefficients on the applied magnetic field and the wavelength of light were studied. The results of simulation showed a non-monotonic dependence of the diffusion coefficients on the external magnetic field. A qualitative explanation of this behaviour was suggested using a simple scalar model. For calculation of the peak of the coherent backscattering we used the semianalytical approach as long as in nematic liquid crystals this peak is extremely narrow. The parameters of backscattering peak and of diffusion coefficients which were found in numerical simulations were compared with the experimental data and the results of analytical calculation.