Novel orientation states transitions in liquid crystal induced by microtextured substrates

Substrate induced alignment of liquid crystal is well established for elect ro-optical applications. In most of these cases it results in strong anchor ing of liquid crystal, however, tuning of effective anchoring is well desir ed. Some of the photopolymers, under exposure to polarized UV light, induce s the alignment in adjacent liquid crystals and offers the way to control t he alignment on local basis. Here, we show a method of tuning the effective anchoring energy on patterned photopolymer with mixed alignment potential (resulting in planer and tilled orientation) of constant periodicity. The e ffective anchoring is weak and associated with first older transition of or ientation state as a function of temperature. The phenomena observed here m ight be exploited for application purposes by local heating or by applying an electric field.