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Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
Elasticity of smectic liquid crystals with in-plane orientational order and dispiration asymmetry
Jaya Kumar Alageshan1, Buddhapriya Chakrabarti2, Yashodhan Hatwalne1
1Raman Research Institute, C.V. Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560 080, India.
Abstract:
The Nelson-Peliti formulation of the elasticity theory of isolated fluid membranes with orientational order emphasizes the interplay between geometry, topology, and thermal fluctuations. Fluid layers of lamellar liquid crystals such as smectic-C, hexatic smectics, and smectic-C^{*} are endowed with in-plane orientational order. We extend the Nelson-Peliti formulation so as to bring these smectics within its ambit. Using the elasticity theory of smectics-C^{*}, we show that positive and negative dispirations (topological defects in Smectic-C^{*} liquid crystals) with strengths of equal magnitude have disparate energies-a result that is amenable to experimental tests.
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