Acoustooptic and acoustic streaming effects of nematic liquid crystals induced by elastic wave propagating in glass substrate

Acoustooptic effects of nematic liquid crystals are investigated by means of an elastic wave propagating in a glass plate. A nematic liquid crystal cell is mounted on the central region of a glass plate for elastic wave propagation. The elastic wave propagating in the glass plate has a wide frequency range. Two types of periodical textures are observed in the nematic liquid crystals under the existence of the elastic wave. One exists in both homogeneously and homeotropically aligned cells. This texture depends not on the kind of liquid crystal but on the carrier frequency of the elastic wave. The other is recognized only in homogeneously aligned cell. This texture depends not on the carrier frequency of the elastic wave but on the layer thickness and the kind of liquid crystal. Both periodical textures are induced by the elastic wave propagating in the glass plate.