Spirals in cholesteric liquid crystals: A possible nucleation initiator
Résumé
The helicoidal structure of the cholesteric liquid crystal phase can be untwisted by the electric field effect. We have shown that spiral-shaped structures could nucleate at the threshold of the field-induced homeotropic state from filaments (linked to the twisted state) embedded in a homeotropic matrix (untwisted cholesteric). In this article, we describe and study what are the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. In particular, we study to what extent the characteristics suggest a nucleation mechanism based on the propagation from the surfaces of distortions in the distribution of molecules director. These deformations propagate through the homeotropic matrix adjacent to the filaments.
Domaines
Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)