Scattering of circularly polarized light from the isotropic to the cholesteric phase of cholesteryl oleyl carbonate

The Rayleigh intensity and linewidth of circularly polarized incident light have been measured in the isotropic phases and blue phases of cholesteryl oleyl carbonate. In the isotropic phase the intensity data show mean field behaviour. In the blue phase region the scattering of right handed or left handed circularly polarized light shows a different q dependence for the intensity as well as for the linewidth. The correlation function of the intensity fluctuations can be fitted to two exponentials. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the theory proposed by Hornreich and Shtrikman.