Comparison of extended Jones matrices for twisted nematic liquid-crystal displays at oblique angles of incidence

Detailed formulas were derived by using Yeh’s formulation of the extended 2 3 2 Jones matrix and applied to twisted nematic liquid-crystal displays at oblique angles of incidence. Numerical comparisons of this extended Jones matrix method with the exact 4 3 4 Berreman matrix and with the extended Jones matrix of Lien are presented. The various extended Jones matrix formulations differ in their approach to boundarycondition matching between the model birefringent layers. We show that Yeh’s version is a more accurate approximation to the full 4 3 4 matrix. This extended Jones matrix method is fast, direct, and simple. It is also physically more intuitive. © 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3232(99)00711-5] OCIS codes: 160.3710, 230.3720, 120.2040, 000.4430, 080.2730.