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Updated: Jul 24, 2026
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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Excitability in liquid crystal
P. Coullet1, T. Frisch, J. M. Gilli
1Institut Non Lineaire de Nice, U.M.R. 129 C.N.R.S. Universite de Nice Sophia-Antipolis 1361, Rte des Lucioles 06560 Valbonne, France.
Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)
|September 1, 1994
Summary
This study explains spiral wave patterns in liquid crystals using a mechanical model. The addition of a vertical electric field enables analysis within a weakly nonlinear theory framework.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Spiral waves are complex dynamic patterns observed in various systems.
- Liquid crystals exhibit unique electrohydrodynamic behaviors under external fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain spiral wave formation in liquid crystals under combined electric and magnetic fields.
- To analyze these spiral waves using a weakly nonlinear theory.
Main Methods:
- A purely mechanical description of liquid crystal behavior was employed.
- Experiments involved applying a vertical electric field and a horizontal rotating magnetic field.
Main Results:
- The study successfully explains the observed spiral wave patterns.
- The vertical electric field facilitated analysis within a weakly nonlinear framework.
Conclusions:
- A mechanical framework can adequately describe spiral wave phenomena in liquid crystals.
- Weakly nonlinear theory provides a valuable tool for analyzing these complex patterns.
