Inelastic light scattering from the nematic liquid crystal p-azoxyphenetole

Abstract

The spectrum of light scattered inelastically from the nematic liquid crystal p-azoxyphenetole has been studied by optical-mixing spectroscopy. The experimental results support recent hydrodynamic theories of fluctuations in nematic liquid crystals. The unknown Frank elastic constants K2 and K3 (in CGS units) have been determined to be 6·1 × 10−7 ±15% and 17·2 × 10−7 ±25%, respectively.