Polarization properties of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal film with small nematic droplets.

The polarization state of light transmitted through a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal film with small, spherical, nonabsorbing, partially oriented nematic droplets is theoretically investigated. The model used is based on the effective medium approach. Scattering properties of a single droplet are described by the Rayleigh-Gans approximation. Propagation of coherent light is described within the framework of the Twersky theory. To describe the orientation of liquid-crystal molecules inside droplets and liquid-crystal droplets in a sample, the concept of multilevel order parameters is employed. Conditions for circular and linear polarization of the transmitted light are determined and investigated.