DIRECTOR PATTERNS AND INVERSION WALLS IN 2D INHOMOGENEOUSLY DEFORMED NEMATIC LC LAYERS

With progressing resolution of dot matrix displays, effects of inhomog eneous electric fields at the edges of structured electrodes become mo re and more important in the optical performance. We present a new met hod of polarizing microscopy for the study of the director field in tw o-dimensionally inhomogeneous nematic LC layers. Planar cells with ele ctrode strips are investigated. The novel effects observed in these sy stems are two types of inversion walls, depending upon the preferred d irector orientation at the glass plates with respect to the electrodes .