Shear flow and magnetic field effects on smectic C,C*, CM and C*M liquid crystals |
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Authors: | S. P. A. Gill F. M. Leslie |
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Affiliation: | Department of Mathematics , University of Strathclyde , Livingstone Tower, Richmond Street, Glasgow , G1 1XH , Scotland |
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Abstract: | Abstract The continuum equations of Leslie et al. [1] for smectic C, and the extension of this theory for chiral smectic C* [2], are applied to problems involving simple planar layer configurations which accommodate uniform layer thickness constraints. The chiral smectic C*M and non-chiral smectic CM [3] are considered as either biaxial smectic A phases or antiferroelectric smectic C phases and are therefore included as interesting degenerate cases of the smectic C* and C phases, respectively. The effects of static and time dependent magnetic fields on these materials are compared with related deformations occurring in nematics [4] and cholesterics [5,6]. Their reaction to applied shears is also investigated yielding examples of flow alignment, induced secondary flows and unwinding of the chiral helix and testing the validity of enforcing a constant layer thickness. |
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