Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a pair of substrates held at a distance; a pair of electrodes formed on opposing inner faces of the substrates, respectively; alignment films formed on the opposing faces to cover the pair of electrodes, respectively, the alignment films having capability to align a liquid crystal in a horizontal orientation and capability to align the liquid crystal in a random orientation at a predetermined temperature or more; and a chiral nematic liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of alignment film, the chiral nematic liquid crystal layer having a plurality of microscopic domains, each of the microscopic domains having the liquid crystal molecules aligned uniformly in the vicinity of the alignment films, the liquid crystal molecules in different microscopic regions being arranged in different directions with respect to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the double refractive phase difference of an orientation film formed on an electrode substrate is disclosed. The apparatus provided with a laser generating two linearly polarized beams having optical electric fields perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the propagation, beam splitter for splitting the light transmitted through the substrate into two, detectors for detecting a component of 45.degree. to the x-y plane included in one of the two splitted lights and a component in the x or y direction included in the other splitted light and calculation circuit for calculating the double refractive phase difference of an orientation film based on detected values of these two components. The rubbing conditions are controlled in accordance with the double refractive phase difference measured.