Breaking planar liquid crystal anchoring to form controllable twist disclination loops. (24th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Angelo, Joseph; Culbreath, Christopher; Yokoyama, Hiroshi
• Is Part Of: Molecular crystals and liquid crystals. Volume 646(2017)
• Page Start: 214
• Page End: 219
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24
• Subjects: Disclination -- anchoring -- line tension; Molecular crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals; Molecular crystals; Periodicals; 548
• DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2017.1287486
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-1406

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We have developed a new device called the dynamic cell, whereby the twist angle and cell thickness of a liquid crystal cell can be dynamically varied. For a twist angle larger than 90°, there occurs a breaking of anchoring at a certain threshold cell thickness. This structural transition converts the super-twisted state to a normal twisted state by flipping the surface director by 180°. A disclination loop separates the normal twisted region from the super-twisted region. By controlling the twist and thickness, we can stabilize this loop and calculate its line tension.