Laser interferometric measurement of the turbulence time of liquid crystals

An experimental investigation was made of the scattering of a laser beam by nematic n–methoxybenzylidenebutylaniline (MBBA) liquid crystals. Use was made of laser radiation with the maximum spatial coherence. Time dependences of the spatial coherence of the radiation transmitted by a liquid crystal near zero scattering angle yielded the characteristic turbulent mixing time (turbulence time) as a function of the applied electric field.