Configuration of a chiral smectic-C film with a circular inclusion |
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Authors: | J Fukuda |
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Institution: | (1) Nanotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, 305-8568 Tsukuba, Japan;(2) Liquid Crystal Nano-System Project, ERATO/SORST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5-9-9 Tokodai, 300-2635 Tsukuba, Japan |
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Abstract: | It was shown experimentally (P.V. Dolganov et al., Europhys. Lett. 76, 250 (2006)) and by numerical calculations (C. Bohley, R. Stannarius, Eur. Phys. J. E 23, 25 (2007)) that the c -director profile of a two-dimensional chiral smectic-C (SmC) film around a circular inclusion adopts dipolar rather than
quadrupolar configuration observed in achiral SmC films. We give an analytical argument on how spontaneous bend inherent in
chiral SmC liquid crystals influences the configuration of a SmC liquid crystal film around a circular inclusion imposing
tangential anchoring. We find how the angle α between two surface defects seen from the center of the inclusion depends on
the radius of the inclusion R and the strength of the spontaneous bend q . We show, however, that the contribution of the spontaneous bend to the free energy suffers from mathematical ambiguity;
it depends on the mathematical treatment of the outer boundary even when it is at infinity. This might indicate that the shape
as well as the treatment of the outer boundary of the film can significantly influence the equilibrium configuration of the
c -director and the position of the surface defects. |
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Keywords: | 61 30 Jf Defects in liquid crystals 61 30 Dk Continuum models and theories of liquid crystal structure 82 70 Dd Colloids |
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