DOI

Light propagation in helical liquid crystals with the helix pitch considerably exceeding the light wavelength is studied. Using a multidimensional analog of the WKB method, the Green function of the electromagnetic field in such a medium is calculated. This function contains terms corresponding to ordinary and extraordinary waves. The behavior of the Green function in the far-field region is analyzed. It is shown that for the extraordinary ray there exists, on the surface of the wave vectors, a forbidden zone, which, due to periodic changes of the refractive index, corresponds to conditions of the beam turn with the formation of a flat wave channel. The extraordinary beam trajectory, both inside and outside the wave channel, determined by the ray vector, is not flat. The asymptotic behavior of the Green function inside and outside the wave channel is substantially different.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)969-981
Number of pages13
JournalOptics and Spectroscopy (English translation of Optika i Spektroskopiya)
Volume91
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2001

    Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

ID: 49717548