Substrate-induced gliding in a nematic liquid crystal layer

Substrate-induced gliding in a nematic liquid crystal layer.

We consider the interaction between nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) and polymer substrates. Such substrates can interact with NLCs, exhibiting a phenomenon known as director gliding: the preferred orientation of the NLC molecules at the interface changes on time scales that are slow relative to the elastic relaxation time scale of the NLC. We present two models for gliding, inspired by experimen...

Electrically assisted light-induced azimuthal gliding of the nematic liquid-crystal easy axis on photoaligned substrates.

We study azimuthal gliding of the easy axis that occurs in nematic liquid crystals brought in contact with the photoaligned substrate (initially irradiated azo-dye film) under the action of reorienting UV light combined with in-plane electric field. For irradiation with the linearly polarized light, dynamics of easy axis reorientation is found to be faster as compared to the case of nonpolarize...

Pattern Formation for a Planar Layer of Nematic Liquid Crystal

Using equivariant bifurcation theory, and on the basis of symmetry considerations independent of the model, we classify square and hexagonally periodic patterns that typically arise when a homeotropic or planar isotropic nematic state becomes unstable, perhaps as a consequence of an applied magnetic or electric field. We relate this to a Landau – de Gennes model for the free energy, and derive ...

Sub-millisecond nematic liquid crystal switches using patterned command layer

Nematic Liquid-Crystal Colloids

This article provides a concise review of a new state of colloidal matter called nematic liquid-crystal colloids. These colloids are obtained by dispersing microparticles of different shapes in a nematic liquid crystal that acts as a solvent for the dispersed particles. The microparticles induce a local deformation of the liquid crystal, which then generates topological defects and long-range f...