Discotic liquid crystal shells under mixed anchoring: Monte Carlo simulation study
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Topological defects form in discotic liquid crystals (LCs) within spherical shells. Anchoring conditions and shell thickness dictate the type and number of disclination lines observed.
Area Of Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Liquid Crystal Science
Background
- Topological defects (TDs) are inherent in ordered phases, particularly in confined geometries like liquid crystal (LC) shells.
- Understanding TD formation is crucial for applications leveraging LC properties.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the formation and characteristics of TDs in discotic LCs confined within spherical shells.
- To explore the influence of mixed anchoring conditions and varying shell thicknesses on TD structures.
Main Methods
- Utilized Monte Carlo simulations to model discotic LCs confined between concentric spherical surfaces.
- Examined two mixed anchoring scenarios: homeotropic/planar and planar/homeotropic.
- Analyzed defect formation across three distinct shell thicknesses.
Main Results
- Observed multiple disclination lines obeying the Poincaré-Hopf theorem.
- Thicker shells showed two +1/2 disclination arches or a disclination ring depending on anchoring.
- Thinner shells exhibited wedge and twist disclinations terminating at the edge-on surface, with twist disclinations contributing +1/2 charge.
- Confinement-induced isotropic-nematic transition was confirmed.
Conclusions
- Anchoring conditions and shell thickness significantly influence TD formation in confined discotic LCs.
- The study provides insights into the complex interplay between geometry, boundary conditions, and defect topology.
- Findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of ordered soft matter systems.
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