FDTD modelling of light interaction

Ilyina, V. (2006) FDTD modelling of light interaction. University of Southampton, School of Engineering Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 206pp.

Abstract

This thesis is devoted to the application of the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method for describing light interaction with liquid crystal media. This method has been known in the electromagnetic community since 1966, but has so far only found limited application in liquid crystal optics. The thesis consists of four parts. In the first part of the thesis I extend the conventional FDTD algorithm to be used for studying anisotropic media with continuous spatial variations of the dielectric properties. In the second part I discuss tests of the algorithm and software on various dielectric systems with known response. The third and the fourth parts of the thesis are concerned with the nonlinear interaction between light and liquid crystals. In the third part I develop a FDTD self-consistent algorithm that takes into account the coupling between light and liquid crystal orientation. The algorithm is used to simulate the optical Freedericksz transition in a homeotropic liquid crystal cell. I find that solving the problem self-consistently significantly modifies the main characteristics of the transition. In the fourth part I use the liquid crystal FDTD algorithm to investigate the birth of optical singularities. The results are compared to a recent analytical theory. I find that the analytic theory is only qualitatively useful except in the extreme short wave limit.

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