scholarly journals Impact of Nanoparticles on Nematic Ordering in Square Wells

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Slavinec ◽  
E. Klemenčič ◽  
M. Ambrožič ◽  
M. Krašna
Keyword(s):  
Order Parameter ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Topological Defects ◽  
Nematic Order ◽  
Parameter Correlation ◽  
Nematic Ordering ◽  
Order Reconstruction ◽  
Square Well ◽  
Cartesian Coordinate ◽  
Cell Thickness

Nematic liquid crystalline structures within square wells are studied numerically using both Lebwohl-Lasher lattice semimicroscopic and the Landau-de Gennes mesoscopic approach. At lateral boundary wall strong planar anchoring is enforced. The cell thicknesshalong thezCartesian coordinate is assumed to be smaller than the characteristic square well sizeR. Using semimicroscopic modelling we restrict to effectively two-dimensional systems which we study in terms of the tensor nematic order parameter. We consider impact of appropriate nanoparticles (NPs) on nematic configuration for cases whereRbecomes comparable to the biaxial order parameter correlation length. In this case a star-like order reconstruction biaxial profile could be formed in absence of NPs. We demonstrate existence of a rich variety of different nematic structures, including topological defects, which are enabled by presence of appropriate NPs.

scholarly journals Nematic topological defects positionally controlled by geometry and external fields

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 109-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavlo Kurioz ◽  
Marko Kralj ◽  
Bryce S Murray ◽  
Charles Rosenblatt ◽  
Samo Kralj
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Topological Charge ◽  
Order Parameter ◽  
Topological Defects ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
External Fields ◽  
Nematic Ordering ◽  
Spatial Positioning ◽  
A Charge ◽  
The Impact

Using a Landau–de Gennes approach, we study the impact of confinement topology, geometry and external fields on the spatial positioning of nematic topological defects (TDs). In quasi two-dimensional systems we demonstrate that a confinement-enforced total topological charge of m > 1/2 decays into elementary TDs bearing a charge of m = 1/2. These assemble close to the bounding substrate to enable essentially bulk-like uniform nematic ordering in the central part of a system. This effect is reminiscent of the Faraday cavity phenomenon in electrostatics. We observe that in certain confinement geometries, varying the correlation length size of the order parameter could trigger a global rotation of an assembly of TDs. Finally, we show that an external electric field could be used to drag the boojum fingertip towards the interior of the confinement cell. Assemblies of TDs could be exploited as traps for appropriate nanoparticles, opening several opportunities for the development of functional nanodevices.

scholarly journals A Bidimensional Gay-Berne Calamitic Fluid: Structure and Phase Behavior in Bulk and Strongly Confined Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Calderón-Alcaraz ◽  
J. Munguía-Valadez ◽  
S. I. Hernández ◽  
A. Ramírez-Hernández ◽  
E. J. Sambriski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Order Parameter ◽  
Nematic Phase ◽  
Orientational Order ◽  
Topological Defects ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Structural Behavior ◽  
Nematic Order ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Geometry Characteristic ◽  
Strong Confinement

A bidimensional (2D) thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) is investigated with Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. The Gay-Berne mesogen with parameterization GB(3, 5, 2, 1) is used to model a calamitic system. Spatial orientation of the LC samples is probed with the nematic order parameter: a sharp isotropic-smectic (I-Sm) transition is observed at lower pressures. At higher pressures, the I-Sm transition involves an intermediate nematic phase. Topology of the orthobaric phase diagram for the 2D case differs from the 3D case in two important respects: 1) the nematic region appears at lower temperatures and slightly lower densities, and 2) the critical point occurs at lower temperature and slightly higher density. The 2D calamitic model is used to probe the structural behavior of LC samples under strong confinement when either planar or homeotropic anchoring prevails. Samples subjected to circular, square, and triangular boundaries are gradually cooled to study how orientational order emerges. Depending on anchoring mode and confining geometry, characteristic topological defects emerge. Textures in these systems are similar to those observed in experiments and simulations of lyotropic LCs.

scholarly journals Annihilation of Highly-Charged Topological Defects

Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 673
Author(s):  
Eva Klemenčič ◽  
Pavlo Kurioz ◽  
Milan Ambrožič ◽  
Charles Rosenblatt ◽  
Samo Kralj
Keyword(s):  
Topological Defects ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Experimental Sample ◽  
Surface Anchoring ◽  
Nematic Order ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Sharp Edges ◽  
Additional Defect ◽  
Cartesian Coordinate ◽  
External Stimuli

We studied numerically external stimuli enforced annihilation of a pair of daughter nematic topological defect (TD) assemblies bearing a relatively strong topological charge |m|=3/2. A Landau- de Gennes phenomenological approach in terms of tensor nematic order parameter was used in an effectively two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, where spatial variations along the z-axis were neglected. A pair of {m=3/2,m=−3/2} was enforced by an appropriate surface anchoring field, mimicking an experimental sample realization using the atomic force microscope (AFM) scribing method. Furthermore, defects were confined within a rectangular boundary that imposes strong tangential anchoring. This setup enabled complex and counter-intuitive annihilation processes on varying relevant parameters. We present two qualitatively different annihilation paths, where we either gradually reduced the relative surface anchoring field importance or increased an external in-plane spatially homogeneous electric field E. The creation and depinning of additional defect pairs {12,−12} mediated the annihilation in such a geometry. Furthermore, we illustrate the absorption of TDs by sharp edges of the confining boundary, accompanied by m=±1/4↔∓1/4 winding reversal of edge singularities, and also E-driven zero-dimensional to one-dimensional defect core transformation.

Inhomogeneous bulk nematic order reconstruction

2008 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Lombardo ◽  
H. Ayeb ◽  
F. Ciuchi ◽  
M. P. De Santo ◽  
R. Barberi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nematic Order ◽  
Order Reconstruction

scholarly journals Perylene-like Dyes in Liquid Crystalline Media

1996 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 843-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Mykowska ◽  
Danuta Bauman
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Transition Temperature ◽  
Order Parameter ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display ◽  
Isotropic Phase ◽  
Display Devices ◽  
Electrooptical Properties ◽  
Derivatives Of

Abstract The spectral and electrooptical properties of some dichroic fluorescent dyes (derivatives of 3.4,9,10-perylenetetracorboxylic acid and of 3,4,9-perylenetricarboxylic acid) in isotropic solvents and nematic liquid crystals have been studied. The order parameter of the dyes in the anisotropic matrices has been determined by means of optical spectroscopy methods. Moreover, the influence of the dye addition on the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature of the pure host has been investigated. It was found that some of the dyes studied can be utilized in guest-host liquid crystal display devices.

scholarly journals Order Parameters, Orientational Distribution Functions and Heliconical Tilt Angles of Oligomeric Liquid Crystals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Mandle ◽  
John W. Goodby
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Tilt Angle ◽  
Order Parameter ◽  
Nematic Phase ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Thermal Evolution ◽  
Order Parameters ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Orientational Distribution

We compare the order parameters, orientational distribution functions (ODF) and heliconical tilt angles of the TB phase exhibited by a liquid-crystalline dimer (CB7CB) to a tetramer (O47) and hexamer (O67) by SAXS/WAXS. Following the N-TB phase transition we find that all order parameters decrease, and while 〈P2 〉 remains positive 〈P4 〉 becomes negative. For all three materials the order parameter 〈P6 〉 is near zero in both phases. The ODF is sugarloaf-like in the nematic phase and volcano-like in the TB phase, allowing us to estimate the heliconical tilt angle of each material and its thermal evolution. The heliconical tilt angle appears to be largely independent of the material studied despite the differing number of mesogenic units.

Thermoassisted Photorecording in Chiral Smectic Azodye Copolymers

2001 ◽  
Vol 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail V. Kozlovsky ◽  
Wolfgang Haase ◽  
Matthias Rehahn
Keyword(s):  
Order Parameter ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Holographic Gratings ◽  
Copolymer Films ◽  
Shock Heating ◽  
Mesophase Formation ◽  
Photoinduced Birefringence ◽  
High Diffraction Efficiency ◽  
High Diffraction

ABSTRACTIllumination of photochromic liquid-crystalline (PCLC) copolymer films with polarized light during the mesophase formation has been studied. Both thick pressed and thin spin-coated, the films show prominent increase in photoinduced orientation, as compared with conventional isothermal photorecording. Two methods of the thermoassisted recording have been suggested, one of those with simultaneous cooling of the film and another one after a shock heating and quenching. The photoinduced birefringence, Δnind, and the order parameter of photochromic groups, Sazo, have been measured. The thermally assisted recording produces holographic gratings with high diffraction efficiency, η, up to 20-30%.

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