Field-, temperature-, and anchoring-induced inhomogeneous index distribution of a nano-dispersed nematic liquid crystal near the Freedericksz transition: Monte Carlo studies

Monte Carlo studies of the field induced complex refractive index changes in nano-dispersed nematic liquid crystals exhibiting negative - positive refractive indices1, 2 have been performed for various cases of applied field strengths,3 anchoring profiles and temperatures over a broad spectral regime. The resultant induced spatially inhomogeneous molecular order and the corresponding metamaterial properties are obtained for various wavelengths, applied field strengths, anchoring forces and temperatures below and above the Freedericksz transition. In general, the director axis reorientation and the resultant refractive index distribution are spatially inhomogeneous, even under an uniform applied field. The detailed computation have identified parameter sets for obtaining negative index of refraction and maximal index modulations that can be more than an order of magnitude larger than those obtainable from pure NLC systems.