Far-Field Patterns from Dye-Doped Planar-Aligned Nematic Liquid Crystals Under Nanosecond Laser Irradiation

High-definition patterns were observed under 10-Hz-pulse-repetition-rate, nanosecond laser irradiation of azodye-doped planar-nematic liquid crystal layers at incident intensities I 5–10 MW=cm in a single beam configuration and without any feedback involved. An incident polarization parallel to the nematic director was used. Under periodic pulsed laser irradiation, far-field beam patterns at the output of a dye-doped liquid crystal layer changed kaleidoscopically from rings and stripes to multiple hexagons. This pattern-formation regime had a buildup time of several seconds to minutes. We explain the observed effect by diffraction of the laser beam on light-induced micrometer-size inhomogeneities inside the liquid crystal layer with absorption and refraction properties different from the surrounding area. Possible mechanisms of the formation of the inhomogeneities are discussed.