Optimal liquid crystal modulation controlled by surface alignment and anchoring strength

Spatial modulation of liquid crystals can be controlled and adjusted by light polarization, the degree of pretilt on the substrates, anchoring strength, and the experimental geometry. In particular, strong anchoring can affect the liquid crystal orientation in opposite ways, depending on the polarization of the incident light. Here we present a theoretical model that describes the liquid crystal modulation and how it can be controlled and optimized. The model is valid for electric fields with a uniform component that is large with respect to the spatial modulation, a situation typical of spatial light modulators and photorefractive cells.