Birefringence dispersion of N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) determined from channeled spectra

The birefringence of MBBA, determined from the channeled spectra, decreases when the wavelength increases, showing a normal dispersion. The changes induced by an external electrostatic field acting perpendicular on the nematic director in the birefringence values were evidenced. The birefringence increases with the electrostatic field intensity which enhances the preferential alignment by the big values of the electric dipole moments induced parallel to the long MBBA molecule. The main refractive indices were interferometrically measured for three visible monochromatic radiations and the birefringence values were concordant with those estimated from the channeled spectra. The main molecular polarizabilities were estimated.