Pattern formation in smectic liquid crystal lms
نویسندگان
چکیده
Many initially uniform systems can develop regular patterns of spatial structure when driven su ciently far from equilibrium. In their simplest forms, these patterns resemble soft condensed phases. Pattern formation takes place via instabilities that are the nonequilibrium equivalent of phase transitions. We rst provide a general overview of the study of pattern formation in uid dynamical systems. We then describe recent experimental and theoretical work on patterns formed by electrically driven convection in very thin, freely-suspended lms of smectic liquid crystals.
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