Numerical Simulation of Generation of Optical Vortices at Light Beam Propagation Through a Layer of a Nematic Liquid Crystal.

Light beam propagation through an anisotropic liquid crystal medium is numerically simulated. The Maxwell equations are solved by the FDTD method on computational grids with up to 6 · 10⁸ nodes. Propagation of the fundamental mode HE₁₁ of the fiber-optical light guide through a layer of a nematic liquid crystal filling a transverse gap in the optical fiber and containing a disclination. The behavior of the angular moment as a function of the layer thickness and disclination power is studied. System parameters that ensure the most effective generation of twisted light beams are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]