Nematic director configurations in high pretilt, parallel aligned layers

Authors
Walton, HG Towler, MJ
Citation
Hg. Walton et Mj. Towler, Nematic director configurations in high pretilt, parallel aligned layers, LIQ CRYST, 27(2), 2000, pp. 157-161
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics
Journal title
LIQUID CRYSTALS
ISSN journal
02678292 → ACNP
Volume
27
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
157 - 161
Database
ISI
SICI code
0267-8292(200002)27:2<157:NDCIHP>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
We describe the director configurations associated with a negative dielectr ic anisotropy, high pretilt (typically similar to 85 degrees) nematic cell. A number of distinct director configurations are observed, with both a tra nsition to a spontaneously twisted state and a nucleated transition mediate d by disclination line movement. We discuss the role of surface pretilt and elastic constant anisotropy on behaviour and give results on the relative energetic stability of the director states.