Anisotropy of domain growth in nematic liquid crystals |
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| Authors: | Jinkyung Jung Colin Denniston Enzo Orlandini Julia M. Yeomans Corresponding author |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Dept. of Physics, Theoretical Physics , University of Oxford , 1 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3NP, UK;2. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy , The Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, MD 21?218, USA;3. INFM-Dipartimento di Fisica , Universita di Padova , I-35131 Padova, Italy |
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| Abstract: | We have studied domain growth in nematic liquid crystals using a lattice Boltzmann algorithm to solve the full, three-dimensional equations of hydrodynamics. An initially cylindrical V (bend) domain in an H (splay) state grows or shrinks anisotropically in agreement with experiment. A disclination loop forms at the mid-point of the wall surrounding the domain. We argue that different director configurations at different points on the loop lead to velocity anisotropy and show that both elastic effects and backflow are relevant. We discuss the dependence of the domain wall velocity on surface tilt and on the magnitude of an applied electric field. |
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