Separation of optical anisotropies by angular dependent reflection anisotropy spectroscopy

Double rubbing of polymer films, which finds applications in modern liquid crystal devices, has been investigated using reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) and atomic force microscopy. A method of gauging the relative strength of rubbing in two different directions, based upon the dependence of observed RAS signals on the sample azimuthal angle, has been found. Angular dependent measurements are shown to be a useful extension of the standard technique by allowing angular dependent sources of optical anisotropy to be separated experimentally. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.