Induced birefringence in the isotropic phase of cholesteric liquid crystals

The birefringence induced by an acoustic field in the isotropic phase of the cholesteryl myristate cholesteric liquid crystal has been measured. The measurements were performed at sound frequencies of 3.2 and 9.8 MHz in a wide temperature range. Based on the results of the measurements of the induced birefringence, the relaxation time of the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is estimated.