±1/2 wedge disclinations stabilized by a sinusoidal boundary in a thin hybrid nematic liquid-crystal film

Takuya Ohzono, Jun Ichi Fukuda, Kosuke Suzuki, Tomohiko Yamaguchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

As an interesting example of how geometry affects the formation of defects, we study the defect structures of a hybrid nematic liquid-crystal film in a wedge-shaped cell made up of sinusoidal microwrinkles and an elastomer sheet. When the cell thickness is larger than a threshold value h c, +1/2 and -1/2 disclinations are simultaneously stabilized along concave grooves and convex crests, respectively. A simple theoretical analysis gives a good estimate of h c. The disclinations also show alternating optical rotations resulting from the curved boundary and liquid-crystal elastic anisotropy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number030701
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume86
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 28 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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