Phenomenological Theory of Light-Induced Reorientation

Abstract

A phenomenological theory is developed for light-induced reorientation of liquid crystals driven by the trans↔cis photoisomerization of photochromic molecules bound to the surface of or dispersed in liquid crystal media. The present theory successfully accounts for previous observations, which are to suggest the role played by the liquid-crytallinity of the host medium and is thus out of the range of usual explanations based on the photoselection mechanism.