Dynamics of light induced reorientation of nematic liquid crystals in spatially confined beams

Optically induced reorientation dynamics in a nematic liquid crystal is investigated for circularly polarized laser beams with spot sizes smaller than the sample thickness. Various dynamical regimes, such as periodic, quasi-periodic, intermittent, self-organized and possibly chaotic regimes are observed. The role finite beam size is identified and a qualitative interpretation based on the spatial walk-off of the ordinary and extraordinary beams arising from double refraction phenomenon is proposed.