Nemaktis is an open-source platform including tools for propagating and visualizing optical fields in complex birefringent media such as liquid crystal (LC) layers. It includes three backends implementing advanced numerical methods for light propagation, as well as an easy-to-use high level interface in python allowing to quickly setup a simulation and visualize optical micrographs of a LC structure as in a real microscope. It goes well beyond the Jones method usually used in LC research, by accurately modeling diffraction, walk-off, focusing effects, Koehler illumination…

If you want a platform for easily comparing experimental images and numerical micrographs from simulated or theoretical birefringent structures, you should definitely check it out!

Links:

GitHub
Documentation