A wall induced electro-optic effect at a solid-nematic liquid crystal interface under an external electric field

A domain-wall is experimentally observed along a curved surface of an elong ated glass spacer dispersed in a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal (LC) c ell. The cylindrical optical fibers coated with two different polyimides (P I) for either homogeneous or homeotropic alignment are used as spacers in t he TN cells. The formation of the walls/defects around the fiber spacers de pends on the nature of the LC alignment at the fibers and the magnitude of the applied voltage. It is found that the domain-wall grows along the curve d surface of the fiber spacer monotonically with increasing the electric fi eld, and reaches a maximum around the Fredericks transition. The wall induc ed effect on the electro-optic performances of TN LC displays is also discu ssed.