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
Rok vydání: 1997
Předmět:
Zdroj: Liquid Crystals. 23:193-203
ISSN: 1366-5855
0267-8292
DOI: 10.1080/026782997208442
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