Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

The presence of a dielectric medium in a capacitor not only changes the voltage and capacitance but also affects the electric field. In general, dielectrics can be of two types: polar and nonpolar. In a polar dielectric, the positive and negative charges in the molecules are separated by a distance and hence have a permanent dipole moment. In contrast, no such charge separation exists in a nonpolar dielectric, however the nonpolar molecules get polarized in the presence of an external electric...

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT) is an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique specifically designed to detect and enhance the signals of low-abundance nuclei, such as carbon-13 and nitrogen-15, in small molecules. The fundamental principle behind INEPT is the transfer of polarization from a more abundant and highly polarizable nucleus, typically hydrogen-1, to the low-abundance nucleus of interest. This process effectively boosts the NMR signal of the...

Continuous Charge Distributions

Continuous Charge Distributions

Imagine a bucket of water. It contains many molecules, of the order of 1026 molecules. Thus, although it contains discrete elements (molecules) at the microscopic level, macroscopically, it can be considered continuous. Small volume elements of water, infinitesimal compared to the bulk of the bucket's volume, still contain many molecules. Under this framework, quantized matter is approximated as continuous for practical purposes.
The electric charge can also be subjected to an analogical...

Cell Inclusions

Cell Inclusions

Prokaryotic cells possess a variety of inclusions that play crucial roles in nutrient storage, metabolic processes, and environmental adaptation. These structures enable bacteria to thrive under fluctuating environmental conditions by storing essential resources and optimizing their metabolic efficiency.Carbon Storage: Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid and Glycogen GranulesBacteria frequently store excess carbon in specialized granules. Poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) granules are lipid polymers that...

Molecular and Ionic Solids

Molecular and Ionic Solids

Crystalline solids are divided into four types: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent network based on the type of constituent units and their interparticle interactions.
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Theory of central peak and acoustic anomaly in cubic BaTiO<sub>3</sub>close to ferroelectric transition.

Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal·2026

Same author

Steric repulsion counteracts ER-to-lipid droplet protein movement.

Science advances·2025

Same author

Ions and dipoles in electric field: nonlinear polarization and field-dependent chemical reaction.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2024

Same author

Origin of gradients in lipid density and surface tension between connected lipid droplet and bilayer.

Biophysical journal·2021

Same author

Fat inclusions strongly alter membrane mechanics.

Biophysical journal·2021

Same author

Long-range correlations of polarization and number densities in dilute electrolytes.

The Journal of chemical physics·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Charged inclusion in nematic liquid crystals.

Lionel Foret¹, Akira Onuki

¹Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|October 10, 2006

Summary

A general theory explains how electric fields deform liquid crystals. Charged particles induce nanometer-scale defects, with Saturn rings or point defects appearing based on dielectric anisotropy.

Area of Science:

Physics, Soft Matter
Materials Science

Background:

Liquid crystals exhibit unique optical properties influenced by external fields.
Understanding molecular orientation under inhomogeneous electric fields is crucial for device applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a general theory for liquid crystal behavior in inhomogeneous electric fields using the Ginzburg-Landau scheme.
To investigate the impact of charged particles on the orientational order in nematic liquid crystals.

Main Methods:

Application of the Ginzburg-Landau theory to model liquid crystal behavior.
Analysis of molecular orientation deformation by electric fields with orientation-dependent dielectric tensors.
Numerical investigation of the influence of charged particles on nematic order.

More Related Videos

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals

Published on: August 15, 2018

An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation

An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation

Published on: February 27, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals

Published on: August 15, 2018

An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation

An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation

Published on: February 27, 2019

Main Results:

The director aligns with or against the local electric field around a charge, depending on dielectric anisotropy.
Deformation intensifies with increasing charge-to-radius ratio (Ze/R).
Nanometer-scale defects, including Saturn rings (positive anisotropy) or pairs of point defects (negative anisotropy), form around particles for large Ze/R.

Conclusions:

The study provides a theoretical framework for understanding electric field effects in liquid crystals.
Charged particles induce significant structural changes and defects in nematic liquid crystals.
The type and arrangement of defects are controllable by the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal.