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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
The isotropic-nematic interface with an oblique anchoring condition
S M Kamil1, A K Bhattacharjee, R Adhikari
1The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, CIT Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|November 10, 2009
Summary
We explored uniaxial and biaxial orders at the isotropic-nematic interface using Ginzburg-Landau-de Gennes theory. Results show anchoring conditions at the interface depend on elastic coefficients, influencing director orientation.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- The behavior of liquid crystals at interfaces is crucial for device applications.
- Understanding the interplay between order parameters and elasticity is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate uniaxial and biaxial order parameters at the isotropic-nematic interface.
- To analyze the influence of oblique anchoring conditions on interfacial properties.
- To compare variational and numerical results within Ginzburg-Landau-de Gennes theory.
Main Methods:
- Numerical and analytic solutions of Ginzburg-Landau-de Gennes equations.
- Construction of variational profiles for order parameters.
- Minimization of free energy to obtain numerical results.
Main Results:
- Spatial variations of order parameters are localized near the interface.
- Director orientation interpolates linearly between interface anchoring and far-field conditions.
- Planar or homeotropic anchoring at the interface is determined by the sign of the elastic coefficient L(2).
Conclusions:
- Variational calculations closely match numerical results.
- The study provides insights into the selection of anchoring types at nematic interfaces.
- Findings align with density functional theory and molecular simulation results.
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