DYNAMICS OF THE FIELD-INDUCED TWIST DEFORMATION IN WEAKLY ANCHORED NEMATIC LAYERS

The dynamics of the field-induced one-dimensional twist deformation in weakly anchored nematic layers was investigated by means of numerical simulation. The rise time constants and the decay time constants, cha racteristic for the onset and for the decay of the deformation, respec tively, were determined. The time of delay, which had passed before th e decay started, was revealed in the case of finite anchoring. For wea ker anchoring, the time of delay and the decay time constant were long er. Surprisingly, the onset of the deformation was slower when the anc horing was weaker, provided that the ratio of the actual field strengt h to the threshold held strength was fixed.