Field-induced inhomogeneous index distribution of a nano-dispersed nematic liquid crystal metamaterial near the Freedericksz transition: Monte Carlo studies

Monte Carlo studies of the field-induced complex refractive index changes in nano-dispersed nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) exhibiting negative-positive refractive indices have been performed for various cases of applied field strengths and anchoring conditions over a broad spectral regime. The resultant field-induced spatially inhomogeneous molecular order and the corresponding metamaterial properties are obtained for various wavelengths and applied field strengths below and above the Freedericksz transition. In general, the director axis reorientation and the resultant refractive index distribution are spatially inhomogeneous, even under a uniform applied field. The detailed computations have identified parameter sets for obtaining the negative index of refraction and maximal index modulations that can be more than an order of magnitude larger than those obtainable from pure NLC systems.