Interface dynamics in liquid crystals |
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Authors: | C. Chevallard M. Clerc P. Coullet J.-M. Gilli |
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Affiliation: | (1) Institut Non-Linéaire de Nice (UMR 6618 CNRS-UNSA), 1361 route des Lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France, FR |
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Abstract: | We have experimentally observed the pattern instabilities of an Ising wall formed in a nematic or cholesteric liquid crystal layer. We have deduced an envelope equation, relevant close to the Fréedericksz transition, from which we derived an equation for the dynamics of the interface in the vicinity of its bifurcation. In the case of the zig-zag instability, this model is characterized by a conservative and variational order parameter whose gradient satisfies a Cahn-Hilliard equation. We have also investigated the influence of slightly broken symmetries on the dynamical behaviour of the system. The disappearance of the interface translational invariance or of the reflection symmetry along the wall axis may induce new interfacial patterns which have been both experimentally and theoretically pointed out. Received 5 August 1999 and Received in final form 13 September 1999 |
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Keywords: | PACS. 47.20.Ma Interfacial instability - 47.20.Ky Nonlinearity (including bifurcation theory) - 61.30.Gd Orientational order of liquid crystals electric and magnetic field effects on order |
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