https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2005-10127-2
Regular Article
Lensing effects in a nematic liquid crystal with topological defects
Departamento de Fısica, Universidade Federal da Paraıba, Caixa Postal 5008, 58051-970, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
* e-mail: moraes@fisica.ufpb.br
Received:
23
March
2005
Accepted:
17
May
2006
Published online:
16
June
2006
Light traveling through a liquid crystal with disclinations perceives a geometrical background which causes lensing effects similar to the ones predicted for cosmic objects like global monopoles and cosmic strings. In this paper we explore the effective geometry as perceived by light in such media. The comparison between both systems suggests that experiments can be done in the laboratory to simulate optical properties, like gravitational lensing, of cosmic objects.
PACS: 61.30.Jf Defects in liquid crystals – / 61.30.Dk Continuum models and theories of liquid crystal structure – / 78.20.Bh Theory, models, and numerical simulation – / 02.40.-k Geometry, differential geometry, and topology –
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2006
