Numerical analysis of the radial-axial structure transition with an applied field in a nematic droplet
| Autor: | Shinichi Komura, David A. Dunmur, M. S. Stern, R. J. Atkin |
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| Rok vydání: | 1997 |
| Předmět: |
Materials science
Condensed matter physics Field (physics) Isotropy Phase (waves) General Chemistry Disclination Condensed Matter Physics Specific surface energy Condensed Matter::Soft Condensed Matter Core (optical fiber) Classical mechanics Position (vector) Liquid crystal Physics::Atomic and Molecular Clusters General Materials Science |
| Zdroj: | Liquid Crystals. 23:193-203 |
| ISSN: | 1366-5855 0267-8292 |
| Popis: | In this paper the director configurations and the free energies of a nematic droplet with a surface normal anchoring condition are calculated numerically. For this surface anchoring, a transition occurs between the radial and axial structures with respect to an applied field. In the calculation of the director configurations, the position of a disclination has been fixed. Comparing the free energies for different disclinations, the stable position which gives the minimum free energy is found. In calculating the free energy of a droplet, it is assumed that the free energy density of the nematic phase does not exceed the isotropic free energy density, so that the large distortion in the vicinity of the disclination causes a nematic-isotropic transition and the free energy density of the disclination core becomes equal to the isotropic free energy density. The director configuration in a droplet is calculated as a function of an applied field for different isotropic free energy densities, elastic constant ra... |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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