Lensing effects in a nematic liquid crystal with topological defects

Light traveling through a liquid crystal with disclinations perceives a geometrical background which causes lensing effects similar to the ones predicted for cosmic objects like global monopoles and cosmic strings. In this paper we explore the effective geometry as perceived by light in such media. The comparison between both systems suggests that experiments can be done in the laboratory to simulate optical properties, like gravitational lensing, of cosmic objects.     

Dynamic evolution of topological defects around drops and bubbles rising in a nematic liquid crystal

We report observations of topological defects around drops and bubbles that rise through a vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal. We provide direct evidence for downstream convection of the Saturn-ring defect and its transformation to a hyperbolic point defect. The point defect is convected further in the wake of the drop or bubble as the rising velocity increases. In equilibrium, both defect configurations may persist for long times in the narrow cell. But the point defect sometimes spontaneously opens into a Saturn ring, indicating the latter as the globally stable configuration in the presence of tight wall confinement.     

Hydrodynamics of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals

We show that backflow, the coupling between the order parameter and the velocity fields, has a significant effect on the motion of defects in nematic liquid crystals. In particular, the defect speed can depend strongly on the topological strength in two dimensions and on the sense of rotation of the director about the core in three dimensions.     

Point defects and ring defects in a nematic liquid crystal in a cylindrical capillary

The bidirectional escape into the third dimension of a linear disclination of strength m=1 (L ₊₁ ^p in a cylindrical capillary with normal boundary conditions is investigated. It is shown that in this case two types of defects arise in the capillary: point defects and ring defects, each of which can be of the radial or hyperbolic type. Exact solutions are obtained for the equation of equilibrium of the elastic field. The free energy of the point and ring defects is calculated approximately in a narrow, long capillary. New scenarios are proposed for the escape of the disclination L ₊₁ ^p . Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 29–32 (July 1999)     

Anchoring screening of defects interaction in a nematic liquid crystal

The relaxation dynamic of a dipole of +1/2 and -1/2 parallel disclination lines in a confined geometry is measured. The confinement and the planar anchoring conditions force the disclinations to be normal to the glass plates. In a first asymptotic regime, the direct elastic interaction between disclination is completely screened out by the anchoring energy. In a second regime, corresponding to the final annihilation steps, the dynamic follows the square-root law predicted by de Gennes for two isolated and parallel disclinations. The annihilation dynamic, in the asymptotic regime, is in good agreement with an elastic model based on an electrostatic analogy.     

拓扑荷在圆盘状向列相液晶薄膜中的尺寸效应

拓扑现象对于病毒颗粒的空间分布、高分子聚合物纳米囊泡的成型以及玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚物等方面都发挥着重要作用.本文利用Landau-de Gennes理论,构建模型来模拟液晶中拓扑荷分布及其他现象.通过对数值模型序参量场的演化,以及模拟液晶薄膜中所生成的拓扑荷之间的相互作用来分析液晶(Lqc)薄膜的尺寸对拓扑荷的影响.研究...     

On the deflection of light by topological defects in nematic liquid crystals

The influence of controllable parameters like temperature and wavelength on the trajectories of light in a nematic liquid crystal with topological defects is studied through a geometric model. The model incorporates phenomenological details as how the refractive indices depend on such parameters. The deflection of light by the topological defect is then shown to be greater at lower temperatures and shorter wavelengths.     

Nanostructures in a nematic liquid crystal

The effect of nanoobjects, molecular objects, and α particles introduced into a liquid-crystal matrix that is placed in a dc electric field is studied theoretically and experimentally. The introduced particles form a charged defect, the radius of which is much larger than the particle sizes, in the orientational structure of the liquid crystal. This defect is easily observed under an optical microscope, and its image agrees with calculated data. It is suggested that this effect be used for detection and diagnostics of small objects and for design of ionizing radiation detectors. The phenomena revealed in this work can help in producing new charged-defect-saturated liquid-crystal structures formed by introducing nanoparticles in a medium or by irradiating a medium by ionizing radiation. A nonmechanical principle of transport of nanoparticles and their regular incorporation into the lattice is implemented. The essence of this principle is control of molecular orientations in a liquid crystal by quasi-stationary electric fields.     

Cracks and topological defects in lyotropic nematic gels

We report on the effects of the coupling of nematic order and elasticity in anisotropic lyotropic gels consisting of large nematic domains of surfactant coated single wall carbon nanotubes embedded in a cross-linked N-isopropyl acrylamide polymer matrix. We observe the following striking features: (i) undulations and then cusping of the gel sidewalls, (ii) a nematic director field that evolves as the gel sidewalls deform, (iii) networks of surface cracks that are orthogonal to the nematic director field, and (iv) fissures at the sidewall cusps and associated topological defects that would not form in liquid nematics.     

向列相液晶缺陷光子晶体透射光谱偏振敏感特性研究

研究了向列相液晶缺陷TiO2和SiO2交替的光学多层膜一维光子晶体透射谱偏振敏感特性。外电压下透射光谱测试和模拟结果显示,对于平行取向的向列相液晶,当自然光垂直入射时,禁带中两处出现e(TE模式)光和o光(TM模式)透射峰,具有偏振敏感性。随着电压增大,e光透射峰蓝移与o光透射峰合二为一,光谱可调谐范围分别为31和34nm;而对于取向混乱的向列相液晶,禁带中两处出现独立的透射峰,无偏振敏感性。随着电压增大峰位也蓝移,光谱可调谐范围分别为64和15nm。通过混乱取向液晶分子,可以使o光和e光有效折射率值相等,获得偏振不敏感特性。     

Colloidal aggregation in a nematic liquid crystal: topological arrest of particles by a single-stroke disclination line

We numerically study many-body interactions among colloidal particles suspended in a nematic liquid crystal, using a fluid particle dynamics method, which properly incorporates dynamical coupling among particles, nematic orientation, and flow field. Based on simulation results, we propose a new type of interparticle interaction in addition to well-known quadrupolar interaction for particles accompanying Saturn-ring defects. This interaction is mediated by the defect of the nematic phase: upon nematic ordering, a closed disclination loop binds more than two particles to form a sheetlike dynamically arrested structure. The interaction depends upon the topology of a disclination loop binding particles, which is determined by aggregation history.     

Acousto-optical and acousto-dielectric effects in a nematic liquid crystal

This paper deals with the optical transmission and the dielectric effects in a nematic liquid crystal film (MBBA) of homeotropic state subjected to ultrasound. As in the case of the application of shear vibration, it is found that not only the transmitted light intensity through the film but also the dielectric constant and the tanδ of the film change with ultrasound intensity. There exists a threshold sound pressure above which the effects are appreciable. The threshold sound pressure is almost inversely proportional to the film thickness and the ultrasound frequency.     

Opto-acoustic modulator with a nematic liquid crystal

A liquid-crystal optical modulator working with acoustic signals is considered. It is shown that it can be operated also with white light up to frequencies of at least 1 MHz.     

Thermal orientation effect in a nematic liquid crystal

The system of equations describing the thermal orientation effect in nonchiral liquid crystals, which was observed earlier, is proposed and substantiated. The effect of the director reorientation under the action of the temperature gradient is in many ways analogous to the Freedericksz transition in electric or magnetic fields. The angle of deviation of the director from the initial position is determined by the square of the temperature gradient. The effect is observed for a nematic liquid crystal, initially uniformly oriented, and is not accompanied by macroscopic fluxes of the medium under stationary conditions.     

Pre-transitional effects in a nematic and a polymesomorphic liquid crystal

Measurements of ultrasonic velocity V, specific volume v and adiabatic compressibility K_ad are carried out in a monotropic nematic liquid crystal, p-anisal-p-phenetidine (pApP), and a polymesomorphic liquid crystal, p-n-decyloxybenzoyl-p-cresol (DBC) with nematic and smectic A phases. Temperature variation of the order parameter is estimated. The pre-transitional effects observed in v and K_ad are discussed on the basis of de Gennes' theory generalized by Bendler, and the critical exponents are estimated.     

A biaxial nematic liquid crystal

We report a biaxial nematic liquid crystal in a simple thermotropic system.     

Self-transparency effect in a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell

In a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell we report and study the self-transparency effect induced by the creation of an isotropic droplet. A simple theoretical model is presented and good agreement with experimental data is found. In a two beams configuration transistor-like behavior is observed and theoretically discussed.