Linear domains induced in nematic liquid crystals by an acoustohydrodynamic action

Linear domains formed in a planar nematic liquid crystal layer under the effect of an oscillating hydrodynamic flow induced by audio-frequency shear oscillations are studied for an arbitrary angle between the flow velocity and the director describing the orientation of mesophase molecules in the layer. It is demonstrated that, in addition to the previously observed domains with a spatial period comparable to or greater than the layer thickness, spatially modulated structures with a period much smaller than the layer thickness are formed. The existence of the region of critical angles characterized by the most pronounced influence of the angle value on the distortion pattern of the planar layer is revealed.