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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
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High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal
Published on: October 31, 2019
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Visualizing Invisible Phase Transitions in Blue Phase Liquid Crystals Using Early Warning Indicators.
Takayuki Matsui1, Tadayoshi Matsumori1, Yuji Ito1
1Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc, 41-1 Yokomichi, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1192, Japan.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 19, 2022
Summary
This study visualizes invisible phase transitions in blue phase liquid crystals (BPLC) using early warning signals. The method analyzes statistical data changes, enabling mapping of critical transitions in materials science.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Critical transitions in systems are often preceded by changes in statistical properties, serving as early warning signals.
- The application of these early warning signals to materials science, particularly for phase transitions, remains limited despite their fundamental importance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply critical transition analysis to time-series data from blue phase liquid crystals (BPLC).
- To demonstrate the visualization of phase transitions, even those undetectable under ambient conditions, using early warning indicators.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of time-series data from a microscopic 3D ordered soft material (BPLC).
- Application of Landau-de Gennes free energy potential to predict statistical property changes during phase transitions.
- Experimental observation and analysis of phase transitions in BPLC.
Main Results:
- Phase transitions in BPLC were successfully visualized using early warning indicators.
- The skewness of the intensity distribution was observed to invert its sign at phase transitions.
- Temporally and spatially resolved mapping of phase transitions was achieved.
Conclusions:
- Early warning signal analysis provides a powerful tool for studying critical transitions in materials science.
- This approach can visualize phase transitions invisible under ambient conditions.
- The method is adaptable to various material systems and microscopy techniques.
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