TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS IN DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTALS, OR WORDS AND WORLDSAROUND LIQUID-CRYSTAL DROPS

The structure of dispersed liquid crystal droplets is controlled by a balance of the bulk elasticity, surface tension, and surface anchoring . For sufficiently large droplets with radius R > K/W-a, where K is th e bulk elastic constant and W-a is the anchoring coefficient, the surf ace terms prevail. As a result, the equilibrium states of large drople ts contain topologically stable defects. Application of topological th eorems to defect structures, e.g. monopoles, boojums and hedgehogs is reviewed.