Vadim A. Slavin, Robert A. Pelcovits, George Loriot, Andrew Callan-Jones, David H. Laidlaw

Vis ‘06

Techniques for the Visualization of Topological Defect Behavior in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystal basics

T

long organic molecules; model as rods or ellipsoids

Uniaxial nematicIsotropic

n̂

P1/2

Topological defects in nematics: line defects

32

1

P13

2-1/2

coren̂

P

+1/2

2D slice of this:

defects formed closed loops

Defect loops

Monopoles

Questions: 3D, Cores, Evolution

Cl Cp

Cs

Cl + Cp + Cs = 1

Cl Cp

Cs

Cl + Cp + Cs = 1

Vadim A. Slavin, Robert A. Pelcovits, George Loriot, Andrew Callan-Jones, David H. Laidlaw

Vis ‘06

Techniques for the Visualization of Topological Defect Behavior in Nematic Liquid Crystals