Plane hydrodynamic flow in thin free suspended nematic liquid crystal films |
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| Authors: | Y Marinov P Simova |
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| Institution: | Institute of Solid State Physics , 72 ‘Tzarigradsko Chausse’ Boulevard, 1784 , Sofia , Bulgaria |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Radial hydrodynamic flows in free suspended films (with thickness h ≥ 20 μm) of some liquid crystal materials was observed in a narrow temperature range before the line nematic-smectic C transition. The observed flows are explained by a non-linear temperature dependence of the surface tension (Marangoni effect). Upon thinning the liquid crystal films to a thickness 6 μ < h < 20 μm the hydrodynamic flow changes its character: instead of radial flow with sinking seeding particles we observe two circular plane hydrodynamic flows symmetrical to the film's diameter. The temperature distribution in the free film and the surface tension field are discussed. A model for the established circular flows in thin liquid crystal films is presented. |
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