# Waveguide propagation of light in polymer porous films filled with nematic liquid crystals

## TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical analysis and experimental study to explore how light propagates in polymer porous films filled with nematic liquid crystals, revealing sensitivity to anisotropy changes and electro-optic effects.

## Contribution

It provides a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of light waveguiding in polymer-liquid crystal composites, highlighting the impact of anisotropy and external fields.

## Key findings

- Waveguide modes are sensitive to anisotropy changes.
- Experimental results confirm theoretical predictions.
- Electro-optic properties are significant in polymer-liquid crystal films.

## Abstract

We theoretically analyze the waveguide regime of light propagation in a cylindrical pore of a polymer matrix filled with liquid crystals assuming that the effective radial optical anisotropy is biaxial. From numerical analysis of the dispersion relations, the waveguide modes are found to be sensitive to the field-induced changes of the anisotropy. The electro-optic properties of the polymer porous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films filled with the nematic liquid crystal 5CB are studied experimentally and the experimental results are compared with the results of the theoretical investigation.