Simulation of the switching dynamics of a cholesteric blue phase cell by an inhomogeneous in-plane field

By numerical calculations based on a continuum theory, we investigate the dynamics of a cholesteric blue phase liquid crystal cell with comb-like electrodes generating an inhomogeneous in-plane electric field. We demonstrate that the cholesteric blue phase respond to the electric field depending sensitively on the local field strength; disclination lines inherent in cholesteric blue phases disappear under a strong field. We also show that the typical response time is much smaller than milliseconds (those of nematic cells) as shown experimentally.