Orientation phenomena in nematic liquid crystals under a periodic compressional deformation

The orientation behavior of homogeneous planar layers of nematic liquid crystals with open and closed ends in the field of compressional deformations caused by an acoustic effect is studied. The mechanisms determining the connection of the optical response of a nematic liquid crystal (the variable component of an optical signal and its spectrum) with the acoustic parameters (the oscillation amplitude and frequency, and the amplitude of sound pressure) and the layer thickness are revealed. The factors responsible for the mechanism and modes of acoustooptic conversion are considered. It is demonstrated that, by varying the layer thickness, it is possible to implement different modes of signal conversion. The possibility of designing a new modification of a sound receiver based on a nematic liquid crystal and the specific features of this design are discussed. Its advantages over conventional sound pressure receivers based on nematic liquid crystals are indicated, in particular, the absence of limitation of the frequency of the received signal in the low-frequency range.