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Abstract
We numerically study structural transitions inside shallow sub-micrometre scale wells with square cross section, filled with nematic liquid crystal material. We model the wells within the Landau–de Gennes theory. We obtain two qualitatively different states: (i) the diagonal state with defects for relatively large wells with lateral dimension greater than a critical threshold and (ii) a new, two-dimensional star-like biaxial order reconstruction pattern called the well order-reconstruction structure (WORS), for wells smaller than the critical threshold. The WORS is defined by an uniaxial cross connecting the four vertices of the square cross section. We numerically compute the critical threshold in terms of the bare biaxial correlation length and study its dependence on the temperature and on the anchoring strength on the lateral well surfaces.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 20140276 |
Pages (from-to) | 1 - 18 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A - Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences |
Volume | 470 |
Issue number | 2169 |
Early online date | 25 Jun 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2014 |
Keywords
- applied mathematics, mathematical modelling, nanotechnology
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Dive into the research topics of 'Order reconstruction patterns in nematic liquid crystal wells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Fellowship - The Mathematics of Liquid Crystals: Analysis, Computation and Applications
Majumdar, A. (PI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/08/12 → 30/09/16
Project: Research council