THE STATIC NEMATIC DIRECTOR FIELD AT ELECTRODE EDGES

Citation
C. Cramer et al., THE STATIC NEMATIC DIRECTOR FIELD AT ELECTRODE EDGES, Molecular crystals and liquid crystals science and technology. Section A, Molecular crystals and liquid crystals, 257, 1994, pp. 99-112
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Crystallography
ISSN journal
1058725X
Volume
257
Year of publication
1994
Pages
99 - 112
Database
ISI
SICI code
1058-725X(1994)257:<99:TSNDFA>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
We have investigated planar LC cells with striped electrodes and two t ypes of surface alignment of the director. Their optical properties ar e studied by means of polarizing microscopy, and a simple model is pre sented to determine the twist and tilt deformation of the director fie ld. The optical patterns are simulated by computing the transmission f unction of the cell with model director deformations using the 4 x 4 m atrix formalism. Depending on the director alignment at the surfaces, different types of inversion walls have been observed. They form struc tures of a characteristic geometry influencing the optical performance of LC devices. LC parameters may be calculated from the geometrical p atterns of the observed defects. Any further attempt to calculate the exact static two-dimensionally (2D) deformed director fields in struct ured NLC cells ought to be checked by its consistency with the experim ental effects reported here.